A 15-seed bid for an upset fell just short, but Furman made the Southern Conference proud in a physical battle against the Huskies. Richmond and Darren break down the key runs and the standout performers from a wild night in Philly.

In This Episode:

1. First Half Resilience: How Furman weathered a 6-0 UConn start.
2. Tarris Reed Jr.: The historic individual performance with 31 points and 27 rebounds
3. Alex Wilkins: Welcome to the big stage, young fella
4. The X-Factor: Why Alex Karaban was the stabilizer UConn needed.
5. The Closing Minute: A look at the late-game offensive rebounds that killed the momentum.

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The heart and soul of the 2022-2023 "Better Together" squad. Mike Bothwell joins the show just hours before the Furman Paladins take on the UConn Huskies in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Mike doesn't hold back, revealing the "tough love" text messages he sent this year's team during their mid-season slump, his memories of scoring 18 straight points at Samford, and the emotional reality of watching JP Pegues' shot 500 times in the upset over Virginia.

1. The "Tough Love" Texts: Why Mike told the current team he was turning off their games in the second half.
2. Upsetting UConn: Mike breaks down why Furman's 6'11" bigs and "House Money" mentality are the ultimate equalizers.
3. The Virginia Bench Speech: Mike reflects on fouling out and leading the team to an upset while sitting next to Bob Richey.
4. Pro Life in Greece: The "no excuses" reality of international basketball and the transition to the professional ranks.
5. Three Peas in a Pod: Mike’s future in media and his take on the Cavs' James Harden trade.

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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:

1. The "Blender" Offense: How Furman must defend UConn’s relentless screening and cutting actions.
2. Alex Wilkins vs. The Huskies: Predicting UConn’s defensive strategy to "top lock" the SoCon’s most dangerous engine.
3. Size on Size: Why the frontcourt battle between Cooper Bowser and UConn’s elite rim protection is "strength on strength."
4. Philly Magic: Recalling Furman’s history of knocking off defending champs in the City of Brotherly Love.

Let the Madness begin!

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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:

1. The NBA Transition: What life is like playing for Rick Carlisle and the grind of the G League.
2. Betting on Yourself: Why Jalen turned down lucrative overseas offers to pursue his NBA dream.
3. The "Riverboat Gambler": Insights into Bob Richey’s leadership and why Jalen chose to stay at Furman despite the transfer portal.
4. A Magical Legacy: Behind-the-scenes stories from the Emmy-nominated documentary Better Together and that historic upset over Virginia.
5. 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?

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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. 1,099 Days Later: Furman’s return to SoCon glory and Bob Richey’s coaching masterclass.
2. Friday Night Drama: The Citadel’s program-defining win and Shola Adebisi’s clutch performance.
3. The 24-Rebound Game: Justin Neely’s "unheard of" effort against Wofford.
4. Freshman Phenoms: K.J. Younger’s 29-point breakout and Alex Wilkins’ rise to stardom.
5. The 17-Point Deficits: How Western Carolina and ETSU battled back in the quarterfinals.
6. Statistical Turnaround: How Furman flipped the script on their season-long shooting struggles.
7. Championship Breakdown: Bowser’s double-double and the defensive intensity that stifled the Buccaneers.
8. 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?

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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:

1. The Mental Reset: How a late-season 19-point loss to Western Carolina served as the "reset" the team needed.
2. Redemption Arc: The motivation of seeing last year’s seniors fall short and the determination to not let that happen again.
3. Strength in Depth: How navigating mid-season injuries to key players like Cooper Bowser and Alex Wilkins eventually built a deeper, more resilient rotation.
4. Frontcourt Dominance: The impact of the Bowser brothers and Cooper’s unstoppable low-post performance in the final.
5. The "House Spot": Why Tom feels most dangerous on the right wing in transition.

Can the Paladins win a game in the NCAA Tournament?

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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:

1. Samford vs. Furman (6 p.m.): We discuss why Samford is considered the "scariest" team in the league despite Furman’s regular-season sweep.
2. 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.
3. Perimeter Battle: A look at Samford’s league-leading three-point shooting against Furman’s elite perimeter defense.
4. The Health Factor: We explore how the return of Eisa Thomas and Cooper Bowser changes the dynamic for the Paladins.
5. 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.
6. 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?

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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:

1. 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.
2. Depth vs. Star Power: Chattanooga’s 37th-ranked bench production against the "Big Three" of Braxton Williams, Sola Adebisi, and Carter Kingsbury.
3. The Neely Uncertainty: The massive statistical void left for UNCG if national rebounding leader Justin Neely (Ankle) is unable to go.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Charity Stripe Survival: A look at the free-throw disparities that could decide these neutral-site battles late in the second half

Will we see an upset?

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