SoCon Fast Break

Richmond and Darren Angell look at the high-stakes Saturday evening sessions of the 2026 Ingles SoCon Basketball Championships in Asheville. As the tournament heat intensifies, it's a clash between the league's most efficient offenses and the hottest teams entering the weekend.
In this episode:
Samford vs. Furman (6 p.m.): We discuss why Samford is considered the "scariest" team in the league despite Furman’s regular-season sweep.
The Norris Brothers & Jaden Booth: We analyze the impact of the newly named SoCon Player of the Year and why the Norris brothers are the ultimate X-factor for the Bulldogs.
Perimeter Battle: A look at Samford’s league-leading three-point shooting against Furman’s elite perimeter defense.
The Health Factor: We explore how the return of Eisa Thomas and Cooper Bowser changes the dynamic for the Paladins.
Western Carolina vs. Mercer (Nightcap): A breakdown of the 4 vs. 5 seed matchup featuring Defensive Player of the Year Armani Mighty and the "machine" Talon Pettway.
Living at the Stripe: Why Baraka Okojie’s ability to draw fouls makes Mercer’s offense so dangerous, with 23% of their points coming from the free-throw line.

Which team survives?
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The Road to Asheville has officially reached its destination! Richmond and Darren Angell look at the opening round of the SoCon Tournament, focusing on the tactical matchups that will define Friday night at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center.
In this episode:
The Roundhouse Hex is Broken: How The Citadel’s physical, gutty identity led to their first win in Chattanooga since 2012 and what that means for the rubber match.
Depth vs. Star Power: Chattanooga’s 37th-ranked bench production against the "Big Three" of Braxton Williams, Sola Adebisi, and Carter Kingsbury.
The Neely Uncertainty: The massive statistical void left for UNCG if national rebounding leader Justin Neely (Ankle) is unable to go.
VMI’s Perimeter Siege: Why the Keydets’ high-volume three-point attack (4th in NCAA) makes them a terrifying spoiler for a banged-up Spartan squad.
The Frison Factor: How Southern Conference Freshman of the Year candidate Jordan Frison controls the tempo and why he is the X-factor for the Mocs’ tournament run.
Charity Stripe Survival: A look at the free-throw disparities that could decide these neutral-site battles late in the second half

Will we see an upset?
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The votes are in and the hardware has been handed out! The Southern Conference has officially announced the 2026 Men’s Basketball awards, and it was a historic day for Samford’s Jadin Booth, aka Jadin Buckets!
In this episode:
The Jadin Buckets Era: Reacting to Jadin Booth sweeping the top individual honors and leading the nation in three-pointers.
Defensive Dominance: Breaking down the co-winners for Defensive Player of the Year, Cam Morris III and Armani Mighty.
Freshman Impact: Why Alex Wilkins’ Second-Team selection cements him as a premier talent despite the lack of a "Freshman of the Year" award.
Coach of the Year: Brooke Savage’s consistent leadership at ETSU and the remarkable turnarounds at Wofford and Mercer.

Who got snubbed?
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March is here, and "the madness begins" in the Southern Conference. With the regular season officially wrapped, the bracket is set for Asheville, and the parity in the league has never been higher.
In this episode:
The Regular Season Recap: How ETSU clinched the title but is entering the tournament on back-to-back losses.
The Asheville Bracket: A look at the opening matchups, including Chattanooga vs. The Citadel and UNCG vs. VMI.
Preseason Predictions vs. Reality: We revisit our "Floor and Ceiling" projections to see how Wofford and ETSU defied the odds.
The Mystery of Ricky Bradley Jr.: Analyzing the "bizarre" story of the Preseason Player of the Year missing the entire season.
Awards & Power Rankings: Why Western Carolina is our "Team of the Week" on a six-game win streak and the historic 40-point performance by Jadin "Buckets" Booth.

Who can take the crown in Asheville?
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The regular season comes to an end, and the seating scenarios are enough to give any fan a headache! While ETSU has already clinched the outright title, the battle for the Top 6 is wide open.
In this episode:
ETSU at Mercer: The newly crowned champions take their #1 scoring defense into Macon to face the league's top-scoring offense. We discuss the "Barocco Okogie factor" and whether Mercer’s starters are battling "tired legs" down the stretch.
Furman at Western Carolina: The Catamounts are the hottest team in the SoCon with a 5-game winning streak. We analyze the Julian Somalo injury factor and the specific tiebreaker scenarios that could vault WCU into the Top 6.
UNCG at Samford: In a rematch of an 89-82 thriller, can Lennie Acuff’s Bulldogs avenge their early-season loss? We explore Samford's motion offense and why the Spartans likely won't repeat their 70% shooting performance from the perimeter.

Chaos is coming to the SoCon!
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