COLLEGE PARK — Golden State Warriors superstar and reigning league MVP Stephen Curry and Maryland point guard Melo Trimble are separated by almost 3,000 miles, but it doesn’t mean they can’t watch each other on television.
Curry, a perennial all-star, is impressed with what he sees from Maryland’s do-everything-guard.
“He’s so composed when he’s out there on the floor, but he’s aggressive and he’s not afraid of the moment,” Curry said on last week’s episode of the Big Ten Network’s “The Journey.” “He’s not afraid to make big plays. Very similar to how I was back in college.”
Trimble was flattered to hear that Curry keeps tabs on him.
“It means a lot to me to hear that your ideal is watching you play and that you and him have the same game,” Trimble said. “That’s big time for me.”
Trimble’s teammates see the resemblance in their respective games as well, especially when it comes to being able to put the ball in the hoop.
“Melo is consistent every night in scoring for us,” senior forward Jake Layman said in an interview. “I think in that aspect they’re very similar.”
Trimble currently leads the Terps, averaging 14 points per game. He led the team in scoring last year as well, averaging 16 points per game.
“(Trimble) is not afraid to take the big shot,” senior transfer guard Rasheed Sulaimon said.
In comparison, Curry averaged 25 points per game at Davidson University, albeit against lesser talent in the Southern Conference.
Curry excelled at Davidson for three seasons, leading the Wildcats to an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament in his sophomore season – something Trimble hopes to do with Maryland this season.
With five games remaining in the regular season, No. 6 Maryland (22-4 overall, 10-3 Big Ten) currently sits a game back from first place in the conference but is still in prime position to lock up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Both Curry and Trimble have also carried the burden of being labeled “the savior” of their respective collegiate programs.
Overall, Maryland is 50-11 since Trimble set foot in College Park.
“Is he a savior of the program?” head coach Mark Turgeon said in an interview with ESPN. “Well, we’ve been pretty darn good since he got here.”
Even the body types of the players are similar. According to ESPN.com, Stephen Curry stands at 6 feet 3 inches and 190 pounds, while Melo Trimble is listed as 6 feet 3 inches and 185 pounds.
Curry put on a show in Trimble’s backyard at the Verizon Center last Wednesday night against the Washington Wizards, scoring 51 points on 11 made three-pointers, one shy of tying the NBA record.
“I was kind of searching but not trying to force with where the game was,” Curry said. “You can’t mess around with the basketball gods trying to chase a record if the game doesn’t call for it.”
The basketball gods have certainly shown favor on Curry, something Trimble hopes happens to him.
Trimble and the Terps will be back in action on Thursday night against the University of Minnesota Gophers.
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