The 2026-27 Southern Conference basketball preseason coaches poll is here, and the predictions raise one burning question: did the league's head coaches get it right?

Furman claims the preseason top spot, but looming eligibility questions could flip the script. Meanwhile, VMI boasts the preseason Player of the Year and the league's top returning scorer, yet finds itself slotted all the way down at ninth. Add in Tennessee Tech making its Southern Conference debut in the middle of the pack, and the stage is set for serious drama.

Richmond Weaver and Darren Angell return to break down the biggest surprises, snubs, and what these preseason rankings truly signal heading into the season.

In This Episode:

• Furman at No. 1 & The Eligibility Factor — Why the Paladins were picked to repeat at the top and how eligibility uncertainties could shift the standings.
• Complete Poll Breakdown — Sizing up the 2026-27 rankings from top to bottom, including UNCG's transfer portal overhaul.
• The VMI Conundrum — Breaking down Rickey Bradley Jr.'s Preseason Player of the Year nod and why the Keydets were projected ninth despite elite firepower.
• Tennessee Tech's SoCon Arrival — How the Golden Eagles fit into the middle tier of the conference in their inaugural campaign.
• Preseason All-SoCon & Parity — Examining the All-SoCon selections, potential snubs, and how wide open the race to Asheville will be.

Presented by Ingles Markets

The 2026 Ingles SoCon Fast Break Summer Tour marches into Charleston, SC! The Citadel Head Coach Ed Conroy and junior guard Keynan Davis break down the remarkable turnaround in Charleston, building a culture of toughness, and why the Bulldogs' best basketball is still ahead.

Coach Conroy opens up about navigating the transfer portal, serving as the caretaker of McAlister Fieldhouse, inverting the offense in the modern Southern Conference, and why college athletics is alive and well.

In This Episode:

• "We're Just Getting Started" — Coach Conroy details the turnaround from zero league wins to contention and setting a standard of relentless competition.
• The Caretaker of McAlister Fieldhouse — Coaching journey lessons, handling adversity and tough losses, and defending the true value of college athletics.
• Keynan Davis on the Two-Man Weave — Adjusting from Chicago to military school culture, playing for the flag across the chest, and the story behind wearing No. 22.
• Modernizing Bulldog Basketball — Adapting offensive philosophy, inverting the floor, and "trading four years for forty" in recruiting.
• 2026 Bulldog Preview — Adding size, physicality, and defensive edge to stay longer in Asheville come March.

Presented by Ingles Markets

The 2026 Ingles SoCon Fast Break Summer Tour heads to Cookeville, TN! Tennessee Tech Head Coach Tobin Anderson and forward De'Ante Green break down the Golden Eagles' arrival in the Southern Conference, the high-pressure playing style coming with them, and the chip on their shoulder heading into the new season.

Coach Anderson opens up about the historic March Madness run over Purdue, navigating an unexpected coaching change, embracing the history in Cookeville, and instilling a relentless press-and-pace identity. Plus, De'Ante Green joins Richmond for the Two-Man Weave segment to discuss battling back from an Achilles injury, returning closer to family, and the personal meaning behind his tattoos.

In This Episode:

• Toughness, Press & Pace — Coach Anderson breaks down the aggressive, uptempo brand of basketball Tennessee Tech brings into the Southern Conference.
• The Journey & The March Madness Magic — Reflecting on the historic 16-over-1 upset of Purdue, the path to Cookeville, and turning unexpected coaching changes into fuel.
• De'Ante Green on the Two-Man Weave — Overcoming a torn Achilles, beating the odds, playing closer to his Asheville roots, and the story behind his ink.
• Building the Golden Eagle Foundation — Honoring program history, establishing non-negotiable culture standards, and why Cookeville feels like home.
• A New Threat in the SoCon — What to expect from Tennessee Tech as they look to make an immediate statement across the league.

Presented by Ingles Markets