Ohio States’ Lenzelle Smith plays against Michigan during an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio.His Ohio State teammates call sophomore guard Lenzelle Smith Jr. “Big Game L.”
Given the 28 points he scored a couple of weeks ago against Indiana and the 17 points and 12 rebounds he contributed in Sunday’s 15-point victory over Michigan, the nickname fits.
But OSU coach Thad Matta sees the Zion, Ill., resident’s ultimate role on the No. 3 Buckeyes as even more wide-ranging.
“With this team we sort of need a jack of all trades,” Matta said after Sunday’s win improved Ohio State’s record to 19-3 overall and a league-best 7-2 in the Big Ten.
“There’s so many times where a team is going to choose to guard us a certain way or scheme a certain defense. I think Lenzelle really understands that role.”