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Asheville is set to become the epicenter of mid-major drama as the 2026 Ingles Southern Conference (SoCon) Men’s Basketball Championship returns to the Harrah’s Cherokee Center.
With top-seeded East Tennessee State eyeing its first tournament crown in six years and a tightly packed field where the top six teams were separated by just a few games, the road to the Big Dance is wide open.
Expect high stakes and a loud building as ten teams battle for a single automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Here is the men's schedule for the 2026 SoCon Tournament:
Southern Conference basketball tournament bracket 2026
| Seed | Team | SoCon Record | Overall |
| 1 | East Tennessee State | 13–5 | 21–10 |
| 2 | Wofford | 11–7 | 19–12 |
| 3 | Samford | 11–7 | 18–13 |
| 4 | Mercer | 11–7 | 19–12 |
| 5 | Western Carolina | 10–8 | 14–15 |
| 6 | Furman | 10–8 | 19–12 |
| 7 | UNC Greensboro | 9–9 | 13–18 |
| 8 | Chattanooga | 7–11 | 13–18 |
| 9 | The Citadel | 7–11 | 10–21 |
| 10 | VMI | 1–17 | 6–25 |
Where to watch Southern Conference men's basketball tournament
- TV channel: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU
- Live stream: ESPN App
The first two rounds of the SoCon men's basketball tournament are available to stream on ESPN+, with select games also appearing on Nexstar affiliates and South Carolina ETV. The semifinals will air live nationally on ESPNU (or ESPN2), while the championship game will be broadcast on ESPN.
All games can also be streamed via the ESPN App by logging in with a television provider.
Southern Conference men's basketball tournament schedule 2026
- Dates: Friday, March 6–Monday, March 9
- Location: Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina
The 2026 SoCon men's basketball tournament begins on Friday, March 6, and concludes with the championship game on Monday, March 9. All games will be played at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville.
Friday, March 6: First Round
| Game | Time (ET) | TV / Live Stream |
| #8 Chattanooga vs. #9 The Citadel | 5:00 PM | ESPN App / Nexstar |
| #7 UNCG vs. #10 VMI | 7:30 PM | ESPN App / Nexstar |
Saturday, March 7: Quarterfinals
| Game | Time (ET) | TV / Live Stream |
| #1 ETSU vs. Game 1 Winner | 12:00 PM | ESPN App / SCETV |
| #2 Wofford vs. Game 2 Winner | 2:30 PM | ESPN App / SCETV |
| #3 Samford vs. #6 Furman | 6:00 PM | ESPN App |
| #4 Mercer vs. #5 Western Carolina | 8:30 PM | ESPN App |
Sunday, March 8: Semifinals
| Game | Time (ET) | TV / Live Stream |
| Semifinal #1 | 4:00 PM | ESPNU / ESPN2 |
| Semifinal #2 | 6:30 PM | ESPNU / ESPN2 |
Monday, March 9: Championship
| Game | Time (ET) | TV / Live Stream |
| SoCon Championship Game | 7:00 PM | ESPN |
Southern Conference men's tournament radio coverage 2026
- Radio station: SiriusXM
You can catch the 2026 SoCon men’s basketball tournament live on SiriusXM.
Start your first month of SiriusXM for free and gain access to live coverage of the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL, alongside NASCAR and comprehensive college sports. Stay informed with 24/7 news and expert analysis across multiple sport-specific channels—including dedicated coverage of the Southern Conference on SiriusXM College Sports Radio.
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