Recap of a great week in Greenville. Furman Practice Report. Interviews with all 10 SoCon Head Coaches, Commissioner Michael Cross, and Preseason Player of the Year, Ricky Bradley, Jr.

SoCon Media Days have now come and gone. As a long admirer and observer of the league for several years and in order to start this month of October with some proper buzz, I made the trip to Greenville for the full experience.

Tuesday night I was greeted by two of the most hospitable hosts you'll find in any conference, Senior Assoc. Commissioner Geoff Cabe and Associate Commissioner for Brand Strategy and Broadcast, Dave Friedman.

We then left for a wonderful dinner, only to be joined by SoCon Commissioner, Michael Cross and Tennessee Tech AD Casey Fox. TTU, of course, will now be joining the SoCon in 2026-27 and is one of the more recent surprises in realignment news.

Wednesday provided the marathon opportunity to sit down with Michael Cross on the record, all 10 SoCon head coaches, the preseason player of the year (Ricky Bradley, Jr. of VMI), and Samford AD Martin Newton joined me for a special Bracketology discussion (look for follow-up post for this).

Wednesday evening was action packed as well, getting the opportunity to attend the end of Furman's practice inside their unbelievable remodeled Timmons Arena. The venue contains a second deck of mainly just suites and the first level of seats are right on top of the court. Those areas are only outdone by the Courtside Club, which will cover courtside seating access to club members on the three of the four sides of the court. The place is immaculate (disclaimer: I was too busy talking and watching practice, did not take enough photos).

This Paladins squad looked really connected in live scrimmage work. Had a great discussion with Senior leader Ben VanderWal afterwards, and he loves this team. VanderWal has been a Furman lifer. He explained that each of the vets were assigned a Freshman player to take under their wing and help integrate them into the culture and how to be a Paladin. Chase Johnston and Tom House were out with minor injuries, both are expected back in 1-2 weeks maximum.

Lastly, I raced over to the SoCon leadership social. Which provided more time to connect with ADs, conference officials, and others of influence at the league. A sincere thank you to all at the league office for making this week such a tremendous experience.

Now, let's dive in. Here is how I see the league this season:

Check out all the interviews on YouTube and wherever you enjoy your pods: