The 2024-25 season for the LSU Tigers is over.

Matt McMahon’s squad went a disappointing 14-18 overall (3-15 SEC), going 2-14 in the first quadrant and 2-3 in the second quadrant.

Despite this, earlier in the season, On3 reported that LSU intends to stick with McMahon as its head coach. Why? Because it’s not quite his fault the Tigers can’t get anything done.

College basketball is a constantly evolving and fluid landscape, and one of the biggest changes to the fundamental way the sport works has been the legalization of NIL.

NIL, which is short for Name, Image and Likeness, essentially allows for college athletes to be paid through brand deals, sponsorships, endorsements, social media and advertising.

Sure, schools can’t give their players a paycheck, but NIL collectives truly blur that line at times as the top athletes in the sport are making millions of dollars to play amateur basketball.

On the football field, LSU’s pride and joy, the Tigers are well-equipped for success, with On3 reporting that the school will increase its budget to $18 million to support the football team and Head Coach Brian Kelly.

It’s a different story on the hardwood, however.

Despite being a program that made four Final Fours, most recently in 2006, and won the SEC regular season 11 times, most recently in 2019, On3 reporting suggests that McMahon’s NIL budget is only around $2 million.

While $2 million is nothing to scoff at to the average person, or even by the standards of most schools at the NCAA Division-I level, the figure ranked 13th out of 14 SEC schools last season and, with the addition of Oklahoma and Texas to the conference, remains at the bottom.

LSU’s players aren’t being paid like their conference counterparts and it shows. While dealing with injuries and sickness, LSU lost its last six straight and 13 of its last 15, with multiple of those losses coming in embarrassing fashion.

It’s hard to overlook that Texas pantsed the Tigers by 31 (89-58), Georgia won by nearly 20 (81-62), Kentucky decimated them by 31 (95-64) and, with the season on the line, Mississippi State left little doubt, winning by 29 (91-62).

A measly $2 million isn’t going to cut it in the SEC, a conference that has used its financial strength to become perhaps the greatest conference the sport has ever seen.

Nearly top to bottom, SEC schools dominate the sport as the conference is on a one-way trip to breaking the all-time record for most schools from one league to make the NCAA Tournament (11). In fact, with 16 teams, 14 have legitimate March Madness ambitions with multiple even being championship favorites.

“This year has obviously been a gauntlet,” McMahon said after losing to the Bulldogs. “You look at the quality of the teams, the talent, the age and experience. Over the last five years, the SEC has clearly had the most NBA Draft picks. A lot of the retention in the league. Getting Virginia Tech’s best player coming into the league. Michigan State’s starting point guard. Iowa’s starting point guard. Duke’s starting power forward, on down the line. Not to mention the fact you have Hall of Fame coaches. It’s the best of the best. That’s why you’ve seen this historical season for the league.”

Sure, coaches, atmospheres, competition, brands and other factors play a role in getting some of those players to come to the SEC, but the money is the biggest factor.

And it’s the money that McMahon doesn’t really have right now.

“The SEC has been really good in the past two years because of the NIL investment that’s been made,” McMahon said. “Retention has been incredible in the league. Some guys could be playing in the NBA or the G Leagues. Because of the continued investment, you’ve seen teams go out and bring in other teams’ best players from the Power Five leagues. I think that combination of age, experience and talent acquisition has led to a historical season for the SEC. It’s great credit to those programs.”

A notable quote from McMahon, sure, but it’s what he said next that really has an impact.

“We certainly want to be a part of that.”

Looking at the SEC, there is a clear correlation between spending and success. The two teams at the bottom of the NIL tier list? LSU and South Carolina.

The only two teams definitely eliminated from NCAA Tournament contention? LSU and South Carolina.

There is some good news for McMahon, though.

Assuming LSU keeps its word from February and retains him, the school promised to increase the NIL budget and resources for the team.

This could mean big things for the Tigers as soon as next year, especially with McMahon bringing in David Patrick, a high-level college recruiter, and looking to make a splash on the recruiting trail.

There is precedent for immediate turnarounds as well. Missouri, plagued with off-the-court issues, retained Dennis Gates and invested heavily in the program after going 0-18 in the SEC last season. This year, Gates and his squad won 21 games, boasting a winning record in the conference, and are firmly in the NCAA Tournament.

LSU is not a school that should have significant issues getting a program funded, but if it fails to support the basketball program in a way that matters, Tigers fans better get comfortable with NIT discussions and first-round SEC Tournament exits as the conference only looks to get tougher.