During Saturday’s Nashville Hoops Showdown, FOX’s Gus Johnson didn’t hold back when the conversation turned to the Ohio State Buckeyes-and the difference in how schools are investing in their basketball programs.
The game on the court was a tight one. No.
15 Virginia outlasted Ohio State 70-66, improving to 23-5 on the season behind 13 points each from Malik Thomas and Sam Lewis. For the Buckeyes, it was a frustrating finish and another tough loss in a stretch that’s seen them drop four of their last seven games, falling to 16-9 overall.
But while Virginia was busy closing out a gritty second-half comeback, Johnson and analyst Jim Jackson were just as focused on what’s happening off the court-particularly when it comes to how these programs are being built.
“What a job Coach Odom has done with this roster,” Johnson said, highlighting the Cavaliers' transformation under first-year head coach Ryan Odom. “Seven of their nine rotational players are new.”
That’s not just a coaching feat-it’s a roster overhaul. And in today’s college basketball landscape, that kind of turnaround often comes with a price tag. Johnson made that point loud and clear.
“But the difference between UVA and Ohio State is that UVA paid for it,” he said. “Ohio State, they’ve given all the money to Ryan Day. … I’m going to have to call President Ted Carter and ask him if he can show some love in the pocketbooks for the Buckeyes’ basketball team.”
It was a moment that drew laughs, sure-but also struck a nerve. Because Johnson’s not wrong. The NIL era has only widened the gap between programs that are all-in on basketball and those where football still dominates the budget.
At a place like Ohio State, where football is king, the dollars flow heavily toward the gridiron. Ryan Day and the Buckeyes football program operate with resources that dwarf what’s available to the basketball team.
That’s not just about NIL money-it’s about the entire financial ecosystem. From College Football Playoff revenue to massive media rights deals, football remains the primary revenue driver for most athletic departments.
And that’s what makes Johnson’s comments more than just a soundbite. They speak to a larger tension that’s playing out across college athletics. As expectations for basketball success rise-especially at blue-blood schools with proud hoops traditions-the question becomes: are those programs getting the support they need to compete at the highest level?
For Ohio State, the answer isn’t simple. The Buckeyes have talent.
They’ve shown flashes. But in a sport where roster movement is constant and the transfer portal can reshape a team overnight, investment matters more than ever.
Virginia leaned into that reality. They rebuilt quickly, and they’ve got the wins to show for it.
Ohio State? They’re still trying to find that rhythm-and as March creeps closer, the pressure’s only going to mount.