SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Five regular-season Southern Conference men’s basketball games will air on ESPNU this season.
 
“National linear television exposure on an ESPN network. It is so critical to building the national brand for a conference that has been a top-12-rated conference over the past several years,” SoCon Commissioner Jim Schaus said. “ESPN’s partnership has clearly made a difference in our success and in showcasing that we are one of the best men’s basketball conferences in the country.”
 
The first game in the package will see Mercer visit Samford in the first SoCon game of the season on Wednesday, Dec. 28, a day earlier than its previously announced date. Mercer went 16-17 overall and 8-10 in league play last season, while Samford went 21-11 overall and 10-8 in SoCon play under Bucky McMillan, who was named the Anton Foy SoCon Coach of the Year by the league’s media.
 
Samford, which beat two Power 5 conference opponents and spent a week in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 last season, will host another nationally televised game on Saturday, Jan. 14, when it welcomes defending SoCon regular-season and tournament champion Chattanooga. The Mocs, who were 27-8 overall and 14-4 in league play, spent the entirety of last season ranked in the mid-major poll, peaking at No. 5. After the departure of SoCon Coach of the Year Lamont Paris, UTC is now led by former VMI coach Dan Earl, who helmed the Keydets to a postseason bid last year with a spot in the Roman College Basketball Invitational.
 
Wofford hosts rival Furman on Sunday, Jan. 22, on ESPNU in a contest that was previously scheduled for Jan. 21. The Terriers (19-13, 10-8 SoCon) and Paladins (22-12, 12-6 SoCon) both earned November wins over Power 5 schools last season, with Wofford downing Georgia and Furman topping Louisville. The Paladins spent seven weeks ranked in the mid-major poll last season and reached the title game of the Ingles SoCon Men’s Basketball Championship, falling to Chattanooga on a buzzer-beater in overtime.
 
ETSU makes its first of two SoCon appearances on ESPNU on Tuesday, Feb. 7, when it visits rival UNCG in a contest that was originally slated for Feb. 8. The Bucs went 15-17 overall and 7-11 in league play last season, while the Spartans were 17-15 with a 9-9 league mark and competed in the Roman College Basketball Invitational to cap their season.
 
The Bucs, whose win over Georgia was one of six for the SoCon over Power 5 opponents last season, visits Furman on Sunday, Feb. 19, for the final game in the regular-season ESPNU package. That contest was originally slated for Feb. 18.
 
Three SoCon tournament games will also air on ESPN networks, with both semifinals on Sunday, March 5, on either ESPN2 or ESPNU and the championship game on Monday, March 6, on ESPN.
 
ESPN will assign the on-air talent for each contest.
 
2022-23 Southern Conference Men’s Basketball games on ESPNU (all times Eastern)
Wednesday, Dec. 28     Mercer at Samford; 7 p.m. (moving from Dec. 29)
Saturday, Jan. 14          Chattanooga at Samford; 6 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 22            Furman at Wofford; 4 p.m. (moving from Jan. 21)
Tuesday, Feb. 7            ETSU at UNCG; 7 p.m. (moving from Feb. 8)    
Sunday, Feb. 19            ETSU at Furman; 6 p.m. (moving from Feb. 18)