The games feel tighter. The building feels louder. And the margin for error disappears fast.
The 2026 Ingles SoCon Men’s Basketball Tournament runs March 6–9 at Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina. Ten teams enter. One team leaves with the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
If you are looking for the full SoCon men’s tournament bracket, schedule and championship outlook, here is what matters most.
Final SoCon Men’s Basketball Standings
- East Tennessee State Buccaneers: 13-5 21-10
- Mercer Bears: 11-7 19-12
- Wofford Terriers: 11-7 19-12
- Samford Bulldogs: 11-7 18-13
- Western Carolina Catamounts: 10-8 14-15
- Furman Paladins: 10-8 19-12
- UNC Greensboro Spartans: 9-9 13-18
- Chattanooga Mocs: 7-11 13-18
- The Citadel Bulldogs: 7-11 10-21
- VMI Keydets: 1-17 6-25
East Tennessee State earned the No. 1 seed at 13-5 in league play and 21-10 overall. The Buccaneers were steady all season, but this was not a runaway race.
Three teams finished 11-7. Two more came in at 10-8. That is a tightly packed middle, and it makes this SoCon bracket one of the more unpredictable mid-major tournaments this year.
and now the SoCon Men’s bracket is up! Who ya got? pic.twitter.com/j1fYe7fnXs
— Mid-Major Madness (@mid_madness) March 1, 2026
2026 SoCon Men’s Basketball Tournament Bracket and Schedule
The tournament is single elimination. The top six seeds receive byes into the quarterfinals. Seeds 7 through 10 begin in the first round.
All times Eastern.
First Round – Friday, March 6
#8 vs. #9 – 5:00 p.m. – ESPN+
#7 vs. #10 – 7:30 p.m. – ESPN+
These are survival games. Win and keep playing. Lose and the season is over.
Quarterfinals – Saturday, March 7
#1 East Tennessee State vs. Game 1 winner – 12:00 p.m. – ESPN+
#4 vs. #5 – 2:30 p.m. – ESPN+
#2 vs. Game 2 winner – 6:00 p.m. – ESPN+
#3 vs. #6 – 8:30 p.m. – ESPN+
Saturday is the most important day of the 2026 SoCon Tournament.
The 4-5 and 3-6 games are where this thing can swing. Mercer, Wofford and Samford all finished 11-7. Furman sits right behind at 10-8 but has a 19-12 overall record. None of those teams are going to be intimidated.
Semifinals – Sunday, March 8
4:00 p.m. – ESPN2
6:30 p.m. – ESPN2
Now the pressure rises. National television. Short rest. One win from Monday night.
Championship Game – Monday, March 9
7:00 p.m. – ESPN
Forty minutes for the SoCon’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
SoCon Championship Outlook: Who Can Win It?
East Tennessee State is the top seed at 13-5 21-10, but this tournament feels wide open.
Mercer and Wofford both finished 11-7 19-12. Samford closed at 11-7 18-13 and has the kind of offensive bursts that can flip a game quickly. Furman at 10-8 19-12 may be the most dangerous lower seed in the field.
In a league where the top six teams are separated by three games or fewer, there is very little margin between advancing and going home.
If you are projecting a favorite, it starts with East Tennessee State. But if you are looking for value in the bracket, the middle seeds are right there.
That is what makes the 2026 SoCon Men’s Basketball Tournament compelling.
Four days. Ten teams. One ticket to the Madness.
By Monday March 9 in Asheville, the standings will not matter anymore.