Southern Conference: A Mid-Major Basketball Powerhouse

A look at the teams, players, and storylines in the men's and women's Southern Conference basketball tournaments

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Southern Conference is an old and storied mid-major basketball conference, forming all the way back in 1921. With 10 teams across the southern United States, the SoCon is known for being the first to implement the 3-point line and shot in college basketball. While none of the teams are close to the NCAA Tournament bubble, the conference tournaments promise to be wide open and highly competitive affairs.

Why it matters

The Southern Conference may not get much national attention, but it represents an opportunity for lesser-known programs and players to shine on the big stage of March Madness. The conference's history, unique facts, and tight parity make it an intriguing mid-major to follow as the road to the NCAA Tournament heats up.

The details

On the men's side, East Tennessee State University is the top seed and the conference's highest-ranked team in the NCAA Evaluation Tool at 126th nationally. However, the rest of the SoCon is tightly packed, with Mercer, Furman, Samford, and others all ranking in the top 300 teams. The women's tournament is even more wide open, with Chattanooga as the top seed but ranking just 208th nationally. Parity reigns supreme, setting the stage for an unpredictable and exciting conference tournament.

  • The Southern Conference men's and women's basketball tournaments will take place in March 2026.
  • The automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament will be awarded on Selection Sunday in March 2026.

The players

Jadin Booth

Samford, leading the Southern Conference in points per game at 21.2.

Justin Neely

UNC Greensboro, third in Division I in rebounds per game at 11.4.

Caia Elisaldez

Chattanooga, leading the Southern Conference in both points per game (16.4) and assists per game (5.4) for the women.

Gianna Corbitt

Chattanooga, the top player in the Southern Conference women's basketball by Player Efficiency Rating at 31.7.

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What’s next

The Southern Conference men's and women's basketball tournaments will take place in March 2026, with the automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament being awarded on Selection Sunday.

The takeaway

While the Southern Conference may not get the same national attention as the Power 5 conferences, it represents an opportunity for lesser-known programs and players to shine on the big stage of March Madness. The conference's rich history, unique facts, and tight parity make it an intriguing mid-major to follow as the road to the NCAA Tournament heats up.