SoCon Fast Break

The 2026 Ingles Fast Break Summer Tour rolls into Lexington! VMI Head Coach Andrew Wilson and senior guard TJ Johnson discuss the Keydets' plan for the 2026 season.
Coach Wilson holds nothing back — from the brutal reality of navigating last season's devastating injury wave to how he handled an emotional, late-night phone call involving the SEC. Plus, TJ Johnson opens up about the unique demands of cadet life, his deep-rooted faith, and why he chose to remain loyal to Coach Wilson's culture rather than walk away in the transfer portal.
In This Episode:
Andrew Wilson's late-night portal shocker: The 11:45 PM phone call from an SEC head coach
"We run toward hard" — Breaking down VMI’s unique military landscape and the "Rat Line" culture
TJ Johnson on cadet life: Box springs, "Hay Downs," mandatory boxing, and performing under pressure
Roster breakdown — Retaining all-conference stars, an international recruiting haul, and five-hour coaching whirlwind memories
Learning from legends — How mentors Bobby Cremins and Leonard Hamilton shaped Coach Wilson's bench philosophy

Presented by Ingles Markets

The 2026 Ingles Fast Break Summer Tour kicks off in Johnson City! ETSU Head Coach Brooks Savage and senior guard Maki Johnson discuss the Bucs' plan for the 2026 season.
Coach Savage holds nothing back — from his brutal offseason self-critique to the "Illusion of Choice" mentality borrowed from Nick Saban. Plus, Maki Johnson opens up about his maturation, his faith, and why he's all-in on carrying Coach Savage's culture to the new roster.
In This Episode:
Brooks Savage's offseason self-critique: "I felt like I failed"
The Nick Saban "Illusion of Choice" philosophy and how it shapes ETSU's culture
Maki Johnson on his growth, faith, and leadership role as a senior
Roster breakdown — portal additions, depth, and team culture
The emotional toll of ETSU's Asheville tournament run and what's next

Presented by Ingles Markets

The NCAA is on the precipice of expanding the tournament to 76 teams. Is this a win for "access," or a defeatist move that waters down the greatest event in sports?.
Richmond and Darren are joined by bracketologist Rocco Miller (Bracketeer.org/Field of 68) to peel back the curtain on the business and basketball implications of the 76-team proposal.
In This Episode:
The 76-Team Math: Why automatic qualifiers and mid-majors might be the biggest losers in the new format.
The Commissioner’s Statement: Breaking down Dr. Michael Cross’s controversial support for expansion.
Financial Units: How the "slices of the pie" change when you add more games.
The Transfer Portal Chaos: Why the current April 7th opening is "gutting" rosters and why we need a week of breathing room.

Presented by Ingles Markets

Richmond and Darren dive into the "transfer portal chaos" currently reshaping the Southern Conference. With the portal officially closed, the league is grappling with a staggering 78 players entering the transfer market, including all 12 players from the All-SoCon first, second, and third teams who still had eligibility.
In This Episode:
The High-Major Jump: Analysis of Alex Wilkins’ move to Kentucky, Cooper Bowser’s fit at Arkansas, and Dylan Faulkner joining the Clemson Tigers.
Eligibility Shakeup: What Charlie Baker’s proposed 5-year eligibility rule and the elimination of redshirts could mean for the future of the game.
Major Wins in Lexington: Why TJ Johnson and Ricky Bradley Jr. returning to VMI is the biggest "Season of Hope" story in the conference.
The Legacy Choice: Why some players, like Baraka Okojie, are navigating the portal and what "grass isn't always greener" looks like in 2026.

Presented by Ingles Markets

The NCAA Tournament is often called the "perfect" sports event, but is the push for expansion about to break what makes March magical? In this Insider Edition, we're joined by Vince Wolfram of The Field of 68 and The College Sports Company to go deep into the "steam" picking up behind tournament expansion.
In This Episode:
The Expansion Debate: Exploring whether moving beyond 68 teams is inevitable and if it truly offers more "access" or just more "play-in" hurdles for mid-majors.
The SoCon 2-Bid Dream: Why the current metric system makes it nearly impossible for the Southern Conference to earn multiple bids without expansion.
The Business of "Units": A breakdown of the roughly $2 million payout per unit and why some conferences are strategizing for the "opening round" just to secure the bag.
Eye Test vs. Analytics: A look at teams like Miami (OH) that won 31 straight games but were still forced into a play-in scenario.
The "Play-In" Narrative: Discussing why the "half-priced games" in Dayton shouldn't be viewed as the "Dollar Tree" version of the tournament.
Storytelling in March: How national media brings the stories of mid-major stars to life and why those narratives are the heartbeat of the tournament.

Presented by Ingles Markets