SoCon Fast Break

Are the Furman Paladins poised for another "One Shining Moment" in Philadelphia? After tearing through the SoCon Tournament, the Paladins have secured a 15-seed and a date with the 2-seed UConn Huskies. But don't let the seeding fool you—this isn't your average 15-seed matchup.
Inside This Episode:
The "Blender" Offense: How Furman must defend UConn’s relentless screening and cutting actions.
Alex Wilkins vs. The Huskies: Predicting UConn’s defensive strategy to "top lock" the SoCon’s most dangerous engine.
Size on Size: Why the frontcourt battle between Cooper Bowser and UConn’s elite rim protection is "strength on strength."
Philly Magic: Recalling Furman’s history of knocking off defending champs in the City of Brotherly Love.

Let the Madness begin!
Presented by Ingles Markets

Richmond and Darren are joined by former Furman Basketball star and current Indiana Pacers forward, Jalen Slawson. Jalen reflects on his journey from breaking Furman’s 43-year SoCon title drought to making his mark in the NBA.
In this episode:
The NBA Transition: What life is like playing for Rick Carlisle and the grind of the G League.
Betting on Yourself: Why Jalen turned down lucrative overseas offers to pursue his NBA dream.
The "Riverboat Gambler": Insights into Bob Richey’s leadership and why Jalen chose to stay at Furman despite the transfer portal.
A Magical Legacy: Behind-the-scenes stories from the Emmy-nominated documentary Better Together and that historic upset over Virginia.
Paladin Pride: Jalen’s reaction to Furman winning another Southern Conference championship and how the current squad matches up for the tournament.

Can the Paladins win another game in the NCAA tournament?
Presented by Ingles Markets

The Furman Paladins Claim the 2026 SoCon Championship!
After 1,099 days since their last celebration, the No. 6 seed Furman Paladins returned to the top of the mountain, dismantling top-seeded ETSU 76–61 in a championship performance that was never in doubt. Richmond and Darren take you through the entire journey at the Harrah's Cherokee Center—from the opening-round thrillers to the moment Bob Richey’s squad dominated the final 40 minutes to cut down the nets.
In This Episode:
1,099 Days Later: Furman’s return to SoCon glory and Bob Richey’s coaching masterclass.
Friday Night Drama: The Citadel’s program-defining win and Shola Adebisi’s clutch performance.
The 24-Rebound Game: Justin Neely’s "unheard of" effort against Wofford.
Freshman Phenoms: K.J. Younger’s 29-point breakout and Alex Wilkins’ rise to stardom.
The 17-Point Deficits: How Western Carolina and ETSU battled back in the quarterfinals.
Statistical Turnaround: How Furman flipped the script on their season-long shooting struggles.
Championship Breakdown: Bowser’s double-double and the defensive intensity that stifled the Buccaneers.
Selection Sunday Prep: Breaking down the seeding, the "eye test," and why Furman is a dangerous out in the Big Dance.

Can Furman win a game in the NCAA tournament?
Presented by Ingles Markets

In this Player Edition of SoCon Fast Break, Richmond and Darren get the inside story from Furman guard Tom House as the Paladins found their rhythm at the perfect moment to cut down the nets in Asheville. Tom was the ultimate catalyst for the Paladins, dropping 20 points off the bench in a gritty quarterfinal win over Samford and following it up with 13 points in the championship victory against ETSU.
In This Episode:
The Mental Reset: How a late-season 19-point loss to Western Carolina served as the "reset" the team needed.
Redemption Arc: The motivation of seeing last year’s seniors fall short and the determination to not let that happen again.
Strength in Depth: How navigating mid-season injuries to key players like Cooper Bowser and Alex Wilkins eventually built a deeper, more resilient rotation.
Frontcourt Dominance: The impact of the Bowser brothers and Cooper’s unstoppable low-post performance in the final.
The "House Spot": Why Tom feels most dangerous on the right wing in transition.

Can the Paladins win a game in the NCAA Tournament?
Presented by Ingles Markets

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?
Presented by Ingles Markets