SoCon Fast Break

Three of the hottest teams in the Southern Conference are on a collision course this Saturday, and something has to give. With Samford and ETSU both riding four-game winning streaks into their showdown, and UNCG looking to extend its own streak against second-place Wofford. In This Episode: [00:44] Wofford vs. UNCG: Can the Spartans make it four in a row, or will the Terriers play spoiler? [09:18]...

Football is officially in the books, which means the road to Asheville is heating up! In this episode of SoCon Fast Break , we dive into the mid-February madness where the "baked-in" identities of teams are being tested by injuries, upsets, and some seriously head-scratching performances. In this episode: The Power Shift: Are ETSU and Wofford turning this into a two-horse race? We discuss their co...

We have officially crossed the ten-game mark of the Southern Conference slate! With the 18-game journey to Asheville more than halfway complete, the standings are beginning to harden. This week, we analyze the "Second-Half Surge" and whether anyone can crack ETSU's defensive shell as the hunt for the top seed intensifies. In this Episode: Contenders Separate: We're starting to see clear separation...

Not even a winter storm could slow things down in the Southern Conference! We discuss the "Winter Storm 2026" scheduling shakeup and a week of basketball that defied the odds. From a historic comeback in Charleston to a superstar performance in Spartanburg, the SoCon is starting to see some separation at the top of the standings. In this Episode: The 0.5% Miracle: A dive into The Citadel’s legenda...

A third of the way through the conference slate, the SoCon is reaching a fever pitch, with elite individual performances and a wild week in which road teams dominated, winning 8 of 10 games. In this episode: Nationally Dominant: A deep dive into Armani Mighty’s historic week for Mercer, including a 25-rebound performance against VMI—the most in college basketball since 2023. Team of the Week: Why...

In this "Coach Edition" of SoCon Fast Break , we sit down with Mercer head coach Ryan Ridder to discuss the Bears' explosive start to the conference season. Coach Ridder shares how his team transitioned from a defensive-focused group in the summer to becoming the most efficient, high-octane offense in the Southern Conference today. In this episode: The Offensive Explosion: Insights into the "mind-...

The Southern Conference hierarchy is beginning to take shape. This week was defined by breakthroughs, defensive masterclasses, and an offensive explosion in Macon that has the rest of the league on high alert. In this episode: The Streak is Over : Analysis of The Citadel’s emotional overtime win against Western Carolina, snapping a 37-game losing streak against Division I opponents and the "electr...

What does it feel like to get the "dream job" call just days before the season begins? We’re joined by Wofford Head Coach Kevin Giltner to pull back the curtain on his "whirlwind" return to Spartanburg and the Terriers' impressive 3-1 start to Southern Conference play. In this exclusive Coach Edition of SoCon Fast Break , Giltner shares: The Sudden Call : His "I'm in" moment and the emotional real...

After just two games of conference play, the standings are already providing surprises, from winless starts for preseason contenders to dominant defensive statements. In this episode: The Power Rankings Shift : Why ETSU claims the #1 spot with their elite defensive efficiency. National Recognition : Nils Machowski’s historic week for Wofford, earning him Lou Henson National Player of the Week hono...

Conference play in the Southern Conference is officially here, and the quest for Asheville begins now! In This Episode: Conference Tip-Off : We preview the opening slate of games, including the 106th season of SoCon basketball, tipping off with ETSU at The Citadel. Surprise Standings : Discussing Wofford’s unexpected rise under Kevin Gilder and the challenging non-conference schedules of teams lik...

MID-TERM GRADES: Final exams are over and conference play is just two weeks away! We transition from observations to definitive trends handing out official mid-term grades for all 10 teams! In This Episode: ETSU Buccaneers (Grade: A-): Brook Savage has the Bucs (8-3) at the top of the class with a NET of 100 and elite defensive metrics. Mercer Bears (Grade: A): The surprise of the league. Ryan Rid...

We break down the SoCon's Top 10 Storylines , separating early trends from final conclusions as the league will turn their attention to conference play soon! In This Episode: SoCon Frontrunners: ETSU's defensive dominance and Mercer's high-scoring backcourt (led by Baraka Okojie ) are signaling championship trajectories. Freshman Phenom: Why Alex Wilkins (Furman) is playing like a seasoned star an...

We examine the  SoCon's  most surprising early-season moments!  In This Episode: Triple-Double History: Celebrating Brian Taylor II 's rare historic feat for ETSU as the Bucs look like the team to beat (6-1). Freshman ASCENT: Why Alex Wilkins (Furman) and Brian Sumpter (Wofford) are leading the charge for freshman talent in the league. Top Performers: Breaking down Baraka Okojie's s...

Time to talk Feast Week and the state of the SoCon with national analyst Rocco Miller (Bracketeer.org)! In This Episode: Mid-Major Crisis: Rocco details how NCAA Tournament expansion and biased NET rankings hurt quality SoCon teams like Furman from getting at-large bids and valuable Quad 1/2 games. SoCon Standouts: Wofford's surprising start under Kevin Giltner . TJ Johnson (VMI) leads in scoring....

In the early weeks of SoCon non-conference action, we analyze the early risers, surprise starts across the league, and dive into the SoCon/ASUN Challenge . In This Episode: Wofford Miracle: How new coach Kevin Giltner stabilized the Terriers for a competitive start, despite the coaching chaos. Star Performers: TJ Johnson (VMI) is a top scorer in the nation. Jadin Booth and Keaton Norris (Samford)...

The Chattanooga Mocs are the preseason favorite after their historic 29-win season and NIT Championship . Coach Dan Earl must replace an entire All-SoCon backcourt. In This Episode: The Challenge: Replacing over 2,000 points (Huff/Bonham) and translating a fully overhauled roster into championship success, as voted by the Preseason Coaches Poll . The New Core: Colin Mohalland ("The Big Maple") is...

The Furman Paladins are fueled by the sting of their SoCon Championship loss. Coach Bob Richey is rebuilding the backcourt by leaning on the potential best frontcourt in the league. In This Episode: The Overhaul: Furman replaces 54% of its scoring (PJay Smith & Nick Anderson), relying on Richey's mastery of player development and the "work while you wait" culture. Frontcourt Power: Cooper Bows...

"Bucky Ball" is done! Samford brought in Hall of Fame Coach Lennie Acuff to lead a massive roster overhaul and challenge for the SoCon title immediately. In This Episode: Coaching Shift: Acuff replaces Bucky McMillan, bringing a disciplined, Princeton-style offense to Homewood and relying on his extensive Alabama ties. The New Core: Analyzing the explosive impact expected from Jadin Booth (DII All...

The ETSU Buccaneers are facing a massive void after losing SoCon Player of the Year , Quimari Peterson. Coach Brook Savage brought in 10 transfers to uphold the defensive culture. In This Episode: The Challenge: Replacing the team's top four scorers and maintaining defensive identity while finding offensive efficiency. Targeted Reload: Analyzing the key impact transfers like floor general Jaylen S...

The UNCG Spartans face a massive roster rebuild after losing their top three scorers. Head Coach Mike Jones must maintain his elite defense while solving the biggest question: offense. In This Episode: Elite Defense, Missing Offense: UNCG's defense was 15th nationally (65 PPG allowed), but they lost their top perimeter threats. The Rebuild: Mike Jones relies heavily on the Transfer Portal for toug...

The VMI Keydets have the most returning production in the SoCon ! We analyze the pressure on Rickey Bradley Jr. (the SoCon’s first VMI Preseason POY) to lead the Keydets to the top tier. In This Episode: The Turnaround: Coach Andrew Wilson achieved an 11-game improvement despite having the bottom 25th defense and a brutal 10-game losing streak. Core & X-Factor: Rickey Bradley Jr. 's scoring lo...

The Mercer Bears are undergoing a massive roster overhaul in Year 2 under Coach Ryan Ridder ! We look at a team poised to defy expectations with new talent from the transfer portal . In This Episode: The Overhaul: Mercer replaces 72 PPG, losing 7 of 8 top scorers. We analyze why last year's fast tempo combined with poor defense made a brutal finish. X-Factors: Baraka Okojie (Memphis/George Mason t...

The Catamounts could be poised for a big leap here in the 2025-26 season! We analyze Coach Tim Craft's strategic roster moves and the return of star Marcus Kell . In This Episode: SoCon Breakout Star: Why Marcus Kell is earning Preseason All-SoCon buzz and is primed for a huge season. The Problem/Solution: Breaking down WCU's struggles with efficiency (3P% & defense) and how transfers like Jul...

The SoCon champions are in Crisis Mode ! Wofford is reeling from an unprecedented offseason of coaching upheaval and roster loss. We break down the SoCon Tournament winners' chaos and analyze the massive challenge facing new head coach and alum, Kevin Giltner . In This Episode: Coaching & Roster Crisis: The abrupt departure of Dwight Perry, the last-minute hiring of Kevin Giltner , and the los...

After a brutal winless conference slate last season, can Coach Ed Conroy and a new roster finally find success in the highly competitive Southern Conference? We break down what went wrong for The Citadel last year (poor 3-Point Percentage and Free Throw Percentage were major issues) and look the changes through the transfer portal with key veterans returning. In This Episode: Roster Overhaul: Targ...