The 2026 Ingles SoCon Basketball Championships are set to tip off in Asheville, North Carolina, at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center. This annual tournament features both men’s and women’s divisions, with the winners earning automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament. The tournament schedule runs from March 5-9, 2026. With seeding to be determined by the regular-season standings, here’s a breakdown of the schedules and brackets for both tournaments.
2026 Ingles SoCon Basketball Participating Teams
Here are the participating teams for the 2026 Ingles SoCon Basketball Championships this season.
Men’s Division (10 Teams)
- Chattanooga Mocs
- East Tennessee State Buccaneers
- Furman Paladins
- Mercer Bears
- Samford Bulldogs
- UNC Greensboro Spartans
- VMI Keydets
- Western Carolina Catamounts
- Wofford Terriers
- The Citadel Bulldogs
Women’s Division (8 Teams)
- Chattanooga Lady Mocs
- East Tennessee State Lady Buccaneers
- Furman Lady Paladins
- Mercer Bears
- Samford Bulldogs
- UNC Greensboro Spartans
- Western Carolina Lady Catamounts
- Wofford Lady Terriers
2026 Ingles SoCon Men’s Tournament Schedule and Bracket
Here’s the 2026 Ingles SoCon Men’s Tournament schedule and bracket. The men’s tournament follows a single-elimination format with 10 teams. The top six seeds receive a bye in the first round, while seeds 7-10 compete in opening games. All times are Eastern (ET), and games will be broadcast on ESPN platforms.
Table Format
| Round | Date | Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Round | Friday, March 6 | Game 1 | No. 8 Chattanooga vs. No. 9 The Citadel | 5:00 p.m. | ESPN+ / Nexstar |
| First Round | Friday, March 6 | Game 2 | No. 7 UNC Greensboro (UNCG) vs. No. 10 VMI | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinals | Saturday, March 7 | Game 3 | No. 1 East Tennessee State (ETSU) vs. Winner Game 1 | 12:00 p.m. (Noon) | ESPN+ / SCETV |
| Quarterfinals | Saturday, March 7 | Game 4 | No. 2 Wofford vs. Winner Game 2 | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinals | Saturday, March 7 | Game 5 | No. 3 Samford vs. No. 6 Furman | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinals | Saturday, March 7 | Game 6 | No. 4 (e.g., Mercer or similar) vs. No. 5 (e.g., Western Carolina) | ~8:30 p.m. (approx.) | ESPN+ |
| Semifinals | Sunday, March 8 | Game 7 | Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 6 | ~2:00–3:00 p.m. (approx.) | ESPN+ / ESPN family |
| Semifinals | Sunday, March 8 | Game 8 | Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 | ~5:00–6:00 p.m. (approx.) | ESPN+ / ESPN family |
| Championship | Monday, March 9 | Game 9 | Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 | ~7:00 p.m. (approx., typical tip) | ESPN (likely) |
Notes:
- Bracket is single-elimination; exact No. 4/5/6 seeds vary slightly across sources (e.g., Mercer/Western Carolina often noted in quarterfinals), but top seeds are confirmed as ETSU #1, Wofford #2, Samford #3.
- Times for later rounds are session-based (doubleheaders) and approximate—finalized per TV windows.
Printable 2026 SoCon Men’s Basketball Tournament Bracket
Here’s the printable 2026 SoCon Men’s Basketball tournament bracket. You can also download or print the latest PDF from the league here.
2026 SoCon Women’s Tournament Bracket and Schedule
The 2026 SoCon women’s tournament features 8 teams in a single-elimination bracket, starting directly with quarterfinals. Games are scheduled to avoid overlap with the men’s slate where possible. All times are Eastern (ET). You can download, print, and view the Women’s Bracket in PDF here.
Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 5
| Game | Matchup | Time | TV |
| 1 | #1 vs. #8 | 11:00 a.m. | ESPN+ |
| 2 | #2 vs. #7 | 1:15 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| 3 | #3 vs. #6 | Approx. 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| 4 | #4 vs. #5 | Approx. 5:45 p.m. | ESPN+ |
(Note: Exact times for Games 3 and 4 may vary based on previous game durations but follow approximately 2.25-hour intervals.)
Semifinals: Friday, March 6
| Game | Matchup | Time | TV |
| 5 | Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 11:00 a.m. | ESPN+ |
| 6 | Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 3 | 1:15 p.m. | ESPN+ |
Championship: Sunday, March 8
| Game | Matchup | Time | TV |
| 7 | Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN2 |
College Basketball Postseason Resources
- Championship Week 2026 – All Conference Tournaments Guide
- Printable 2026 March Madness Bracket
