Cardinals Voted Fourth in Preseason Poll, Sparks Named to Preseason All-MAC First Team

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Cardinals Voted Fourth in Preseason Poll, Sparks Named to Preseason All-MAC First Team

October 26, 2022 | Men's Basketball

CLEVELAND – The Mid-American Conference announced its annual men's basketball preseason coaches' poll along with the preseason All-MAC Teams on Wednesday. Payton Sparks earned a spot on the preseason All-MAC First Team. The Ball State men's basketball team was voted to finish in fourth by the coaches in the conference.

"Payton is obviously deserving of this recognition based on his production last season," said Head Coach Michael Lewis. "The challenge for any good player is their continued development and I have loved P's approach to getting better since the first day our staff walked in here. He is everything you are looking for in a student athlete."

Sparks is the reigning MAC Freshman of the Year as well as an All-MAC Third Team selection. Sparks had a team-best 13.5 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per contest. Sparks tallied 418 points last season and is third as a freshman in all-time scoring, behind Bonzi Wells (474) and Ray McCallum (463). Sparks attempted 202 free throws last season, which was tied for 14th in the NCAA and led the MAC. He attempted more free throws than any other freshman in the NCAA. Sparks finished second on the team with 15 blocks. He recorded 12 double-doubles on the season to lead all freshmen and finished second in the MAC. Sparks finished the season with 24 games scoring double figures and 13 games with double-digit rebounds. Sparks' 8.45 rebounds per game was fourth in the MAC, while his 13.48 points per game was 17th in the conference.

"Even as an assistant, I have never been that into preseason predictions," said Coach Lewis. "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. It is much more meaningful to be in the conversation at the end of the year."

The Cardinals also bring back Jaylin Sellers from the MAC All-Freshman Team, Luke Bumbalough, Ben Hendriks, Demarius Jacobs, Basheer Jihad, Mickey Pearson Jr., and Jalen Windham. BSU brought back former MAC Freshman of the Year Jarron Coleman after a season at Missouri. Quincy Adams, Micah Bell, Kaiyem Cleary, Jack Futa, and Darian Owens-White are the newcomers.

The Michael Lewis era of Ball State basketball is slated to begin on Monday, November 7, against Earlham inside Worthen Arena.

2022-23 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
(First Place Votes)

1. Kent State (6) – 135 points
2. Toledo (4) – 131
3. Akron (2) – 127
4. Ball State -- 94
5. Ohio -- 91
6. Buffalo -- 82
7. Eastern Michigan -- 68
8. Western Michigan -- 66
9. Bowling Green -- 42
10. Central Michigan -- 38
11. Miami -- 36
12. Northern Illinois – 26

MAC Tournament Champions: Kent State (4), Toledo (3), Akron (2), Eastern Michigan (1), Western Michigan (1)

2022-23 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams
First Team
Enrique Freeman, F, Akron, Jr.
Payton Sparks, C, Ball State, So.
Sincere Carry, G, Kent State, R-Sr.
JT Shumate, F, Toledo, Sr.
Lamar Norman Jr., G, Western Michigan, Sr.

Second Team
Xavier Castaneda, G, Akron, Sr.
Kevin Miller, G, Central Michigan, So.
Emoni Bates, F, Eastern Michigan, So.
Malique Jacobs, G, Kent State, R-Sr.
Setric Millner Jr., F, Toledo, Sr.

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