2018–19 Southern Conference men's basketball season

The 2018–19 Southern Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2018, followed by the start of the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play will begin in January 2019 and conclude in February 2019. The season marked the 97th season of Southern Conference basketball.

Coaching changes
On March 3, 2018, Western Carolina head coach Larry Hunter resigned after 13 seasons. On March 27, Winthrop associate head coach Mark Prosser, son of the late Skip Prosser, was named head coach of the Catamounts.

Predicted results
Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
 * 1. UNCG (6)                     78
 * 2. Wofford (4)                   74
 * 3. ETSU                           67
 * 4. Furman                        57
 * 5. Mercer                         48
 * 6. The Citadel                  38
 * 7. Chattanooga                30
 * 8. Samford                       26
 * 9. Western Carolina         20
 * 10. VMI                            12

Preseason Southern Conference Media Poll
 * 1. UNCG (16)                 231
 * 2. Wofford (6)                 214
 * 3. ETSU (2)                    198
 * 4. Furman                      169
 * 5. Mercer                        136
 * 6. Chattanooga              103
 * 7. The Citadel                 96
 * 8. Samford                      69
 * 9. Western Carolina        59
 * 10. VMI                            45

Preseason Southern teams
Preseason Player of the Year
 * Fletcher Magee, Sr., G, Wofford

Preseason All-Southern Conference Team
 * Zane Najdawi, Sr., F, The Citadel
 * Tray Boyd III, Jr., G, ETSU
 * Bo Hodges, So., G/F, ETSU
 * Jeromy Rodriguez, R-Jr., F, ETSU
 * Matt Rafferty, Sr., F, Furman
 * Ross Cummings, Jr., G, Mercer
 * Francis Alonso, Sr., G, UNCG
 * James Dickey, Jr., F, UNCG
 * Bubba Parham, So., G, VMI
 * Cameron Jackson, Sr., F, Wofford
 * Fletcher Magee, Sr., G, Wofford