Virginia Outlasts Ohio State in Nashville: Depth, Defense, and a Roster Rebuild Paying Off
In a tightly contested matchup at the Nashville Hoops Showdown, No. 15 Virginia edged out Ohio State, 70-66, behind balanced scoring and a roster that’s proving to be one of the most cohesive rebuilds in college basketball this season. Malik Thomas and Sam Lewis each poured in 13 points to lead the Cavaliers, who notched their 23rd win of the year and continued to look like a team no one wants to see in March.
For Ohio State, it’s another tough loss in a recent stretch that’s been riddled with inconsistency. The Buckeyes have now dropped four of their last seven, falling to 16-9 on the season. And while the final scoreline reflects a close contest, the bigger story may be what’s happening behind the scenes with these two programs - and how one has managed a roster overhaul far more effectively than the other.
Broadcasting duo Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson didn’t hold back during the game when discussing the contrast between the two teams. As Virginia’s Dallin Hall cut the Buckeyes’ lead to a single possession, Johnson highlighted the work done by Virginia head coach Ryan Odom, who took over after longtime coach Tony Bennett stepped down.
“What a job Coach Odom has done with this roster,” Johnson said. “When Coach Bennett retired, everybody jumped in the portal.
And then Coach Odom came in, and he got seven guys quickly. And some European cats as well.
And right now, they’re 15th-ranked in the country.”
That’s not just coach-speak - it’s reality. Seven of Virginia’s nine rotational players are new to the program.
And yet, they’ve jelled fast, playing a disciplined, defensive-minded brand of basketball that’s become synonymous with Cavaliers hoops. The chemistry is ahead of schedule, and the results speak for themselves.
Jim Jackson echoed the sentiment: “Seven of their nine rotational players are new. And to be able to have this kind of success?”
Johnson didn’t hesitate to point out one of the underlying differences between the two programs: “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 just show some love in the pocketbooks for the Buckeyes’ basketball team.”
It was a tongue-in-cheek comment, but it underscored a growing reality in college sports - roster building in the NIL era is as much about resource allocation as it is about recruiting.
Ohio State, meanwhile, was already facing an uphill climb before the game tipped off. The Buckeyes were dealt a significant blow with the news that sophomore guard John Mobley Jr. - the team’s second-leading scorer behind Bruce Thornton - will miss extended time after suffering a hand injury during their Big Ten matchup with USC. It’s a tough break for a team fighting to stay on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble.
Mobley’s absence leaves a major hole in Ohio State’s backcourt, especially during the most critical stretch of the season. While the program remains hopeful he’ll return before year’s end, the timeline is still uncertain - and that uncertainty couldn’t come at a worse time.
As for Virginia, the Cavaliers continue to climb. With their rebuilt roster clicking and their defense locking in when it matters most, they’re looking every bit like a team capable of making a deep run in March. And if Saturday’s win showed us anything, it’s that cohesion, coaching, and a little investment can go a long way.