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Previewing Ball State men's basketball season

<p>A basketball falls through a hoop during the men&#x27;s basketball game at Worthen Arena on Feb. 4, 2022, in Muncie, IN. Ball State beat Toledo 93-83. Amber Pietz, DN</p>

A basketball falls through a hoop during the men's basketball game at Worthen Arena on Feb. 4, 2022, in Muncie, IN. Ball State beat Toledo 93-83. Amber Pietz, DN

MUNCIE, Ind. (NewsLink Indiana) — Men’s basketball tips off in just over a week. Although it’s just an exhibition matchup, fans will get a chance to see the Cardinals in full swing before the games matter more.

Head coach Michael Lewis had a 20 win season for his first season with the Cardinals and is looking to improve on

it.

“I learned a lot from my first year as a head coach but hope I’m a better coach than I was a year ago," Lewis said.

Ball State has eight new faces on the roster that were not on the roster from last year. Ben Hendricks is a returner who is a redshirt junior center.

“I’m very excited to see how they do in our first game and our scrimmages, and overall I’m excited for this year and excited to see where we will come out of," Hendricks said.

Hendricks is one of only six returners from last year.

“My goal this upcoming year is to win a mac championship”, returner Basheer Jihad said.

This would bring huge confidence to a program that is considered very young and new. A MAC championship in a first year could lead to a very dangerous team in the future.

“We're a hardworking excited team, and we're gonna win games for you all in [Worthen Arena]," Mickey Perason Jr. said.

The Cardinals open their regular season on November 11 against Goshen.

Contact Dakota Atwood with comments at dcatwood@bsu.edu