Melo Trimble is the engine that makes Maryland go (+video)

Hearing footsteps of expectations can rattle the most experienced athlete.

Expectations were soaring this year for Melo Trimble, Maryland’s sophomore point guard, after a star-studded freshman season.

Even before last season began, the Terrapins’ veteran point guard high-tailed it to another school because he knew he couldn’t beat out Trimble for the starting job.

In his first college season, Trimble led Maryland in scoring (16.2 points), assists and steals and was selected first-team All-Big Ten.

More importantly, the young floor leader took a team that was barely treading water to 28 victories last season while helping the Terps to a surprising second-place Big Ten finish in their first year in the league.

“Right away, Melo made us all better,” said Rasheed Sulaimon, now a senior shooting guard.

Not surprisingly, that quick success translated into Trimble being named the Big Ten’s preseason player of the year last fall.

Didn’t happen. The award went to Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine.

In part it was because Trimble’s shot took a dive. His shooting dropped nearly 10 percentage points, falling to 37.5.

February was a nightmare. He made 14 of 60 shots. That almost made everyone forget the game-winning three-pointer he hit at the buzzer in a January road game at Wisconsin.

So where has that left Maryland this season?

Right smack in the middle of the NCAA Tournament scramble, facing top-seed Kansas on Thursday night in a NCAA South Regional semifinal.

Trimble’s shooting numbers may not be as glossy as last season, but his leadership has moved up another notch.

And for a point guard, that’s what matters most.

“After last year, expectations really grew for Melo,” said Mark Turgeon, the former Jayhawk who is in his fifth season at Maryland. “That brought pressure.”

Which popped some holes in Trimble’s shot – for now. Turgeon isn’t concerned.

“The only thing I can say about Melo,” Turgeon said, “is he’s a winner.

“He’s gotten better at his point-guard play. His assists are up, his turnovers are down, his decision-making better. Defensively, he has come a long way since last year.”

Trimble is the main cog in why the Terps have gone from a 17-15 record the year before he arrived to 55-15 in his two seasons.

Oh, and the Terps’ 13-year Sweet 16 drought has ended. You also can put that on Trimble.

“Melo has matured,” Sulaimon said. “He’s naturally a quiet kid, but Coach challenged me to challenge him to be more vocal and step in that leadership role.

“It’s really been impressive. He’s more vocal. He’s getting on people when he needs to, putting an arm around them when he needs to.”

Trimble again leads the Terps in scoring, though dipping slightly to 14.8 points. He’s also directed an offense that has all five starters scoring in double figures.

“Melo can penetrate and find anyone who’s open,” Sulaimon said. “He is being the total package for a point guard.”

For a kid who grew up in Upper Marlboro, Md., less than 20 miles from the Terps’ campus, that’s all he has ever wanted.

“I guess I did feel some pressure this year,” Trimble said. “But I’ve kept trying.”

His shots still aren’t on fire, making 5 of 16 in a second-round win over Hawaii. He’s made 2 of 17 three-pointers over the last three games and hit 32 percent for the season.

“I don’t worry about missed shots,” he said. “If I miss one, I’ll shoot the next one. When you’re having fun, you don’t worry about the misses.”

Maryland may very well have made the Sweet 16 last year if Trimble hadn’t missed much of the second half of a 69-59 loss to West Virginia with a concussion. He took a shot to the head from a hard screen, followed by being accidentally kicked in the head by a teammate after he fell down.

But now that the Terps have finally reached the tournament’s second weekend, Trimble is ready for anything.

Even KU’s tenacious three-guard offense.

“Well sure,” he said. “I’m a confident player.”

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 5:08 PM with the headline "Melo Trimble is the engine that makes Maryland go (+video) ."