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Ball State men's basketball picked 4th in MAC preseason poll; Payton Sparks makes All-MAC first team

CLEVELAND — The expectations are already higher for Ball State men's basketball as it enters a new era under head coach Michael Lewis.

Ball State was picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference preseason coaches poll, released Wednesday morning. In addition, sophomore center Payton Sparks was a first-team preseason All-MAC selection.

"Even as an assistant, I have never been that into preseason predictions," Lewis said in a release. "Our team has really been working and I am excited about what we can become, but winning at this level is difficult and we must really grow in several areas for us to become what we want.