SoCon Fast Break

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 halfWill we see an upset?Presented by Ingles Markets

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?Presented by Ingles Markets

It's a Thursday night matchup in the Scenic City as the UNCG Spartans head to "The Roundhouse" to take on the red-hot Chattanooga Mocs. With the Southern Conference standings tightening, this is a "must-win" situation for a Spartan team trying to snap a two-game slide and secure a top-six finish.In this episode:The First Matchup: A look back at the January 1st season opener where UNCG took a 77-72 victory by dominating the interior and getting to the free-throw line 31 times.Battle of Styles: Why Chattanooga’s 3-point reliance (39% of their points) clashes with UNCG’s need to score from the charity stripe (21% of their points).Inside Presence: The importance of Justin Neely and K.J. Younger to pull the defense away from the perimeter.The Health Factor: How the availability and rhythm of Chattanooga’s personnel, specifically Collin Mulholland, could shift the tide for the Mocs.SoCon Founder's Day: A special tribute to the 105th anniversary of the Southern Conference, officially founded on February 25, 1921.Can UNCG slow down Chattanooga's offense?Presented by Ingles Markets

Samford’s Jadin Booth is officially the most dangerous threat from deep in college basketball. In this special Player Edition of SoCon Fast Break, we sit down with the man known as "Jadin Buckets" to go beyond the stat sheet and explore the incredible journey that led him to the top of the national rankings.Jadin opens up about his unique path through the transfer portal and how a devastating knee injury—which he once feared might end his career—actually paved the way to Samford, his marriage, and a renewed sense of purpose.In this episode:The Sniper’s Mentality: Why Jadin’s "keep it simple" approach is the secret to leading the nation in three-pointers made per game.Life Under Lennie Acuff: Insights into the Princeton-style offense and the "life quotes" that guide the team daily.Beyond the Court: The heart behind the Jadin Booth Elite Camp in Omaha and his dedication to giving back to "Ashton’s Army".Family First: Balancing life as a "true OG" on the roster, his marriage to fellow athlete Kiki Morris, and the excitement of becoming a father.The Inspiration Award: What it meant to receive the Ryan Turell Inspiration Award in Kansas City.Asheville Outlook: Why Samford believes they are a "dangerous team" that can beat anyone when the tournament begins.Can Jadin help lead Samford to a SoCon Tournament Championship?

It is Separation Saturday in the Southern Conference, and the stakes couldn't be higher as we head into the final stretch before Asheville! ETSU is on the verge of clinching the regular-season title and the #1 seed—we walk through their path to the top. Plus, the Samford Bulldogs are the hottest team in the league, looking for their 7th straight win as they visit Mercer.In this episode:ETSU at UNCG: Can the Spartans play spoiler against the league leaders?The Clinch Scenario: How the Bucs can wrap up the #1 seed this weekend.Samford at Mercer: Analyzing the Bulldogs' win streak and why Brady Shoulders is the X-factor for the Bears.Game Predictions: Who stays hot and who stumbles on the road?SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Join us LIVE for a special SoCon Fast Break Gameday pregame show this Saturday at 5:30 PM ET! We’ll be broadcasting from Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium ahead of the Furman–Wofford rivalry game.Presented by Ingles Markets

With only two weeks until the Southern Conference Tournament descends on Asheville, the race for the top seed is reaching a fever pitch. Samford and UNCG have officially shown they're the hottest teams right now, but can they keep it up before the bracket is set?In This Episode:The Big Two: Analyzing Samford’s 5-game tear and UNCG’s relentless 4-game win streak.Player Spotlights: How Jadin Booth’s offensive explosion and Justin Neely’s dominance on the glass are changing the scouting reports.Trouble in Johnson City? We discuss if current #1 seed ETSU is starting to slide at the worst possible moment.The Power Rankings: Our weekly look at who’s actually the best in the league right now.Breaking News: Everything you need to know about the new Big South-SoCon Scheduling Alliance and what it means for the league’s future.If you love SoCon hoops, make sure to rate and review the show!Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@soconfastbreakPresented by Ingles Markets

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 consistency and how they've managed to avoid the "roller coaster" rides affecting the rest of the league. The "Hiccup" Week: Mercer and Furman both had weeks they’d rather forget. We debate whether Mercer’s 49-point outing against Samford was a fluke or a sign of fatigue. Samford is Surging: The Bulldogs have found their defensive teeth, holding Mercer to 27% from the field and moving within striking distance of the top three. Justin Neely’s Masterclass: From record-tying free throw attempts to game-winning "ice in his veins" moments, we break down why the UNCG star is the clear Player of the Week. Road Warriors: We celebrate The Citadel’s recent success on the road and wonder if Western Carolina can fix their travel woes before it’s too late. Team of the Week: We’re split between the UNCG Spartans and the ETSU Buccaneers. Player of the Week: A unanimous nod to Justin Neely for his dominant double-doubles. Power Rankings: We shuffle the deck as teams 4 through 7 are now separated by only a single game. Is anyone safe from chaos in the SoCon?