Moderator: John Manuel, this year's winner of the Wilbur Snypp Award for contributions to the sport of collegiate baseball will begin taking your questions at 1 p.m. ET.

Q:	louie from san diego asks: have you heard any rumors on the ucla job and coach rich hill as a canadite for the job. University of san diego has had a great run these past couple of years, how do you feel they will do and were they at all considered in your top teams other than top 25
A:	Moderator: Glad to be back chatting some college baseball . . . the year begins Jan. 15 with Kansas at Hawaii-Hilo, and that's when our college preview issue come out. Let's get started.

Moderator: I think I messed up and didn't properly answer the previous question, which was about the UCLA job. Rich Hill's a good name to throw out there on merit, certainly. Everything we have heard about the UCLA job indicates that alumni of the baseball program (like Troy Glaus and Todd Zeile) plan to be pretty involved, some more than others, and that gives current assistant Vince Beringhele a chance at the job. Other alumni could get involved but I'd rather not speculate with names right now. Let's enjoy Gary Adams' last season.

Q:	Tim from Huntington Beach, CA asks: USC is notably missing from the Top 25. What is the reason for this?
A:	John Manuel: The Trojans have some major questions as they try to overcome last year's 28-28 season. Brett Bannister had Tommy John surgery and will miss 2004, and they really missed him last year. The Trojans are still suffering from the loss of Matt Chico and JP Howell, who would be juniors this year but both are gone (to pro ball and Texas). If Bobby Paschal, Ian Kennedy and the likes of 2002 regional hero Cory Compos can pitch better than the Trojans did last year, they'll be a regional team, but those ifs kept them out of the Top 25.

Q:	pat from chula vista asks: how do you feel the west coast conference will shape up this year with all the coaching changes..pep, usd, gonzaga
A:	John Manuel: San Diego is the favorite, having won the conference tournament the last two seasons and getting Tom Caple back this season from injury. Also, look out for Santa Clara, where Mark O'Brien and his staff are slowly building the talent base. They could use Scott Dierks back, or someone else stepping forward the way he did for them last year, but the talent is there on the mound with the likes of Andrew Slorp and Jared Hughes. Steve Rodriguez and Mark Machtolf were two of the best assistants in the league and should be fine head coaches at Pepperdine and Gonzaga.

Q:	Big KG from Chicagoland asks: Where's UIC. Defending Horizon League champs and coming off their 1st NCAA bid and return ace Ryan Gehring. They'll make some noise on the weekend of 319 when they go to Miami. Mike Dee getting the job done in the city that works!
A:	John Manuel: UIC is our Horizon League favorite. Closer Dave Haehnel was the NO. 1 prospect in the Jayhawk League, and the Flames also return Ryan Martin, who led the league in ERA. It's the league's top pitching staff and worthy of being the favorite in the league. Top 50? I don't see that kind talent there yet, but coach Dee is getting it done, I agree.

Q:	Daniel Carte from Rock Hill, SC asks: What kind of year do you see us having at Winthrop this year? Also, why dont you ever show me some love? All I do is hit, hit, and then hit some more.
A:	John Manuel: I have a sneaking suspiscion that this isn't Daniel, but we have a few Winthrop questions. I have a feeling the Eagles feel slighted by not being on the Top 50, and I can see why. It's a team with talent, starting with Carte, who had a big summer in the Great Lakes League and was a freshman All-American. Coach Joe Hudak tells us this could be the best Winthrop team ever, better even thatn the 2001 team that finished the year ranked 24th. We don't quite see the pitching here that we saw in '01, and a lot hinges on the return of Jeff Reeves from Tommy John surgery, as well as improvement for Kevin Slowey and Mike Honce on the mound. Coastal Carolina and Winthrop should wage a spirited battle for the Big South title.

Q:	Jesse from Stamford, CT asks: Are there any teams or players in the Ivy League that could make an impact in the 2004 season?
A:	John Manuel: Princeton's Ross Ohlendorf will be featured in our preseason issue. The Austin, Texas, native is one of the hardest throwers in college baseball, regularly pumping 94-95 mph gas. He gives Princeton a leg up in the preseason, but Penn also should be solid even though it had four players drafted last year, an Ivy League record.

Q:	Steven from Georgia asks: How much impact do you see the Georgia Tech freshman class having on the team this year?
A:	John Manuel: It's going to be hard for the Tech freshmen to make a big impact this year other than 3B Wes Hodges, who should step in as a starter. The Yellow Jackets have so much returning talent . . . Perhaps Whit Robbins will get some ABs at DH or first base as well, or John Goodman on the mound if some of the veterans don't come through.

Q:	Bill from Houston asks: What will Rice do for a closer?
A:	John Manuel: Looks like Josh Baker, but they planned to address that more when practice starts in two weeks. Baker went 8-0, 3.22 last year and is a former 4th-round pick, so he's a nice replacement for David Aardsma. There's always the chance Baker could pitch his way into the rotation and Wade Townsend (who had five saves last year) could close as well. Other candidates include sophomores Lance Pendleton, Matt Ueckert and Colin Matheny.

Q:	Matt from Columbia asks: John, I realize you are going to get a lot of questions about the power conferences, but what other leagues will you be watching with interest this season? Specifically, what's your take on the Southern Conference? Can The Citadel return to the NCAAs? Thanks.
A:	John Manuel: We have UNC Greensboro and Western Carolina projected as earning regional bids. In the past the SoCon has received three bids sometimes, so Citadel will be battling those two teams and Georgia Southern for regional bids, most likely. Sr. Ryan Gordon is one of the nation's top two-way players and helps give the Spartans the leg up. Citadel got a boost with the return of two-way senior Chip Cannon and also should reap the benefits of the experience its young team gained last year. Coach Jordan does a great job there and usually, the Bulldogs overachieve, so it wouldn't surprise me if they prove us wrong.

Q:	Steve from Houston asks: John, You've recently been tough on the ability of ACC schools to win the CWS. Have you seen progress? If this isn't the year, when?
A:	John Manuel: In one way, we saw progress. N.C. State had a big year last year and finally has a ballpark on campus worthy of hosting a regional. North Carolina won a regional on the road at an SEC field (Miss. State). But the progress critics are looking for are wins in Omaha. Georgia Tech, for example, is in a no-win situation. This is the third time in four years Tech has had more preseason All-Americans than any other school. In other words, major league scouts tell us Tech is the most talented team in the country. And Tech went to Omaha in 2002 and won the ACC in 2003, but flamed out in a regional. Anything less than going to the CWS would be seen as a disappointment. It's a high standard to hold a league to, but if you're going to claim you're the best conference in the country--as ACC coaches are wont to do--you have to win in Omaha.

Q:	Flash from San Francisco asks: You have them ranked #6 so I know BA feels strongly about their team overall, but I am interested to hear your opinion on the Stanford pitching staff this year. Who do you feel will emerge (other than Romanczuk)? It seems like somebody does every year. Thanks for all your great work on College Baseball and congrats on your recent award.
A:	John Manuel: Thanks, Flash. Greg Reynolds could step into the rotation as a freshman. One day, Marc Jecman's size and talent might translate into being a good college pitcher, but don't count me among the believers. Matt Manship will be a very solid No. 2 starter, and Kody Quick also has a good arm. Those are the most likely possibilities for the Cardinal.

Q:	Ralph from New York, NY asks: Where do you see the University of Richmond this year? Which teams from the A-10 will be the strongest? Thanks.
A:	John Manuel: Richmond will be a force again and should dominate the A-10 behind Ben Zeskind, Jim Fasano and the pitching of Jason Bolinski and LHP Tom Martin (if he can come back from Tommy John surgery). George Washington, however, is a program on the rise and should give Richmond a run this year again. The gap between the programs is slimmer with Tim Stauffer gone to pro ball.

Q:	Josh from Brooklyn, NY asks: Arizona is finally coming back above water. Do they have enough to make it to the CWS?
A:	John Manuel: It's going to depend on the pitching. JC transfers Koley Kolberg and Luis Cortez are being counted on to replace Arizona's entire weekend staff of Joe Little (who lost his rotation spot last year but had started for 2 1-2 seasons) and Richie Gardner (both signed pro) and Sean Rierson, who is injured and may not pitch in 2004.

Q:	Mike from Houston asks: Thanks for the great coverage each year, John. There has already been a lot of talk about the big three for Rice. All three are expected to be first round picks. Niemann and Townsend were unbelievable last year and Humber was overshadowed a bit, but he is still in the mix of the top 5 or 6 college arms in the country. What is it about this guy that big league teams like so much?
A:	John Manuel: Thank you Mike. What's not to like about Humber? He beat Stanford with a CG with the national title on the line with his third-best pitch, his splitter, being the difference. He's got a solid average major league fastball in the 89-92 mph range and a plus breaking ball when he commands it, a good, hard curve. Throw in the splitter and it could be a very enticing three-pitch mix. I'll be surprised if he's not a first-round pick.

Q:	Robert Shortell from Portland, OR asks: Thank you for your comprehensive and insightful coverage of college baseball. What can you tell us about the SDSU Aztecs prospects for the upcoming season and beyond?
A:	John Manuel: Mr. Shortell, hope Rory is doing well. We like San Diego State's strides; this should be a better team with Ryan Schroyer on board to close and with 3B Chad Corona and LF Jake McClintock back to power the offense. Both those hitters struggled this year, but part of that is attributable to the awe factor of having Tony Gwynn as coach. Tony's not trying to make everyone a Tony Gwynn clone at the plate. With another year, those players will realize that, be themselves and be more productive. Also, the experierence of last year should make Tony a better coach, and he certainly has the passion for it, so we expect big things from the Aztecs in the near future.

Q:	Lee from Fresno asks: John, Does Jerry Weinstein have any chance of getting the UCLA job? He is an alumni.
A:	John Manuel: He'd make a fine choice. Not many 50+ year-olds are hired as first-time D-I coaches, but it worked pretty well for Rice, where Wayne Graham had a similar track records as a JC legend and was hired to take over the Owls at age 54. Weinstein would make sense. AD Dan Guerrero has been on the Division I baseball committee and has a national pool to pick from, becuase UCLA is a plum job.

Q:	mark from cleveland asks: I notice the usual ACC teams in the top 25 - Tech, Clemson, UNC - any comments on them & how the rest of the conference shakes out?
A:	John Manuel: The ACC looks deep with solid teams, and Florida State is down compared to the usual FSU talent level. N.C. State's pitching will be outstanding and deeper with the maturation of Nate Cretarolo and the health of Derek McKee (not quite back) and Daniel Caldwell. North Carolina should be very good on the bump with freshman Andrew Miller and holdovers Gary Bakker and Adam Kalkhof. Clemson's pitching also looks very good, and by its own standards, so does Duke's. If Virginia's pitching was healthier (two starters down with TJ), I'd pencil the Wahoos in for a regional bid, but they may come up a bit short, as they did last year.

Q:	Steve from Owlton asks: Rice has four top flight starting pitchers back, with Austin Davis, Chris "Gritman" Kolkhorst and Paul Janish as returning position players. How well has Wayne Graham filled the other holes, particularly at catcher, with Justin Ruchti and Jeff Blackinton moving on and Adam Rodgers moving behind the plate?
A:	John Manuel: Rodgers is a key, because Rice let Ruchti call the pitches. Rice's pitchers are so experienced, Rodgers will probably rely on them to call their own games. Rice's offense will start with its outfield, and Matt Ueckert has big power potential from the left side at 1B. But that's really the big question for the Owls. They have a lot of offense to replace.

Q:	Connie Meadows from Gainesville asks: How is Florida ranked so low with Harrison and Hoyman coming back. Also what type of proprospects does Justin Tordi have?
A:	John Manuel: Having those guys (and C.J. Smith) back is why the Gators are ranked. They're ranked 20th because they just didn't pitch well at all last year. Other than Hoyman, Florida's pitching was pretty much a disaster, so I thought this was a pretty good ranking, actually.

Moderator: Just FYI, we've switched the chat soundtrack from Guided By Voices to Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

Q:	Ron from Seattle, WA asks: Where do you see University of Washington finishing in the PAC-10? They lost quite a few pitchers as well as position players from their regional team last year, but have some relatively big time names returning.
A:	John Manuel: The Huskies will be a very interesting team. Will Fenton, who didn't give up a run as a closer last year, moves into the rotation. Tim Lincecum should be one of the year's best freshman; he's 5-foot-9 or so, about 150 pounds and throws in the low 90s and can do it all day. They have an intriguing freshman class, one of the Pac-10's top players in Brett Lillibridge at shortstop and junior 1B Kyle Larson, who could lead the Pac-10 in home runs (non-Jeff Clement category) if he shakes his sophomore slump. Look for U-Dub to make another regional trip.

Q:	Peter from Greenwich, Ct asks: Big Wake Forest fan , what's going to happen to the Deacs this year? Tough schedule and lost experienced players. How do you see the '04 season?
A:	John Manuel: Peter, Wake Forest has one of the top transfers in the ACC in JC RHP Justin Keadle, who starred in the Cape Cod League last summer, and while we don't have Wake pegged as a regional team, it wouldn't surprise if this team overachieves a bit. It would be amazing if they make a regional without Kyle Sleeth and Jamie D'Antona after failing to do so with them last year.

Q:	Tom from Houston asks: Can you please explain how Huston Street is not a first team all-american. Even as a Rice fan I can acknowledge that he is one of the best players in the country and the MVP of an elite program. Also, how was Rice's Josh Baker left off your all-america teams when he had better numbers than half of the pitchers listed and played for the team that won the last game of the season.
A:	John Manuel: Tom, major league scouting directors vote on our preseason All-America teams. They honestly like the five guys picked ahead of Street better than they like Huston, who made the second team. There is amazing pitching depth in the college game this year. I think we all know how good Street is, and I respect no player more, especially after what Huston did last summer for Team USA. As for Baker, our preseason teams are not about numbers, they're about talent. Anybody can take last year's numbers and spit out a preseason All-America team. We try to be more forward-looking and try to project more than just taking a look back. Josh Baker is very good, but I like the other guys the scouting directors picked better.

Q:	CW from NC asks: I see you have Arizona State at 18 but Collegiate Baseball has them much higher at #7. BA ranked their incoming calss third in the country, they return AA's Pedroia and Larish, and Fr. AA Averill and Buck. They look like a top 10 team to me...
A:	John Manuel: Put simply, I don't think we believe in Arizona State's pitching. They lost Ryan Schroyer and Bo Vaughn, their two best pitchers last year, and there's no obvious replacement. Jeff Mousser comes in from BYU, and ASU's last BYU transfer (Will Waldrop) worked out pretty well for them. But the Sun Devils will hit as they always have under Pat Murphy. We're just wary of them on the mound. Schroyer is a big loss; he won and saved a lot of games for them the last three years.

Q:	Jeff Austin from Greenville SC asks: What do think of Clemson's chances making it to the CWS this year. They return all the pitching and got some new guys that a lot of people don't know about like Sipp,and Santangelo. Thanks Jeff
A:	John Manuel: The area scouts we know who saw the Tigers in the fall were very impressed. Tony Sipp sounds like a potential star as a one-year JC transfer who will pitch and play outfield. Santangelo is very good defensively; I want to see if he'll hit. He hit .260 at Seton Hall last year so I'm not quite on the Santangelo bandwagon that I've heard about. Brad McCann is a proven middle-of-the-lineup producer, though, and I'm a huge Garrick Evans fan and expect him to also contribute to the lineup. Clemson has gone to Omaha four times under coach Jack Leggett, and a fifth trip this year would not be a surprise.

Q:	Mick from Chicago asks: How excited should college baseball fans be when watching Stephen Drew play? The last I read on him, his tools grade a notch below that of his brother's, J.D. Will he be a shortstop in the pros, and are there any other SS's near his caliber?
A:	John Manuel: Drew is certainly one of the best players in college baseball. We've had scouts compare him to Todd Walker and we've heard some naysayers about him at short. One question: where was Stephen Drew last summer? He hasn't played summer ball for two years because of injuries (foot, knee) and to my knowledge hasn't played summer ball with a wood bat at all. So that's another question he has to answer. If he works hard, he'll answer them affirmatively. He's talented and he plays hard, making him perhaps college baseball's most exciting player.

Q:	Andrew from Philadelphia asks: What do you see Florida State doing this year?
A:	John Manuel: Tying in to Stephen Drew, this will be a team to really watch this season. FSU hasn't been to Omaha the last two years despite entering the postseason as the No. 1 team in the country, losing super-regionals at home both times to Notre Dame and Texas. This team isn't as talented as the last two--no Tony Richie, no bevy of offspeed lefthanders pounding the strike zone, and no Marc LaMacchia, who signed the day classes started, leaving FSU without its projected ace. However, FSU has talent on the mound with guys like Mark Sauls and Rhett James, who led the Cape in wins last summer, and Eddy Martinez-Esteve will put up very loud numbers if he is healthy all year. Watch Mike Martin squeeze 50 wins out of them again.

Q:	Chris from Richmond, VA asks: How are the teams in the Richmond area looking this year? Both VCU and UR have had solid runs lately, and was curious if that will continue.
A:	John Manuel: I think I covered the Spiders before . . . VCU should be quite good again, especially on the mound. Justin Orenduff and Cla Meredith are back from the nation's ERA champs, and Jeff Parrish is one of the nation's better catchers. Virginia baseball as a whole is up, big time. UVa will be better, Va. Tech has to get better as it enters the ACC, George Mason and William & Mary have improved, and James Madison and Old Dominion are the state's traditional powers and are still very solid programs (especially JMU). The Commonwealth's prep talent is excellent and is the biggest reason why the colleges are better.

Q:	Charlie from Wilmington, NC asks: What are you thoughts on UNCW this year, after coming off a great season last year. How do you think they will fair in the CAA and postseason. Thanks.
A:	John Manuel: I was just asking coach Scalf about this the other day. He's optimistic about the Seahawks. I'm not as much as he is. Jamie Hemingway was their offensive leader for several years and has graduated; pitchers like Brad Overton, Jake Mullis and Chris Coughlin are gone, but Jr. RHP Ronald Hill could be an ace and a good draft, and Will Hunt is a solid left. Closer Blake Cross is back too, so the 'Hawks should pitch. I just wonder who other than Matt Sutton will hit. Where's Magnus Pilegard when you need him? (Actually, he's probably in Sweden.)

Q:	Bob from Poughkeepsie NY asks: What is your take on Elon University and their change to the Southern Conference. How do you feel about their top players?
A:	John Manuel: We don't get too many Phoenix questions. This is going to be a tough move, the Big South is a better conference than people think, but the SoCon is stronger and deeper. In Evan Tartaglia and Grant Rembert (Hickory, N.C., representing!), Elon has two good offensive players in the outfield. Mike Fratoe is a solid two-way talent and Mike Garner was an ace in the Big South. Elon has a shot at finishing in the top half of the SoCon, but I don't see a regional bid this year.

Q:	Mike from Orrville, OH asks: John, Is the weather the reason for the lack of northern teams in the top 25 or is it the fact that kids in the sun belt and west coast can play year round? I guess I am asking why the northern teams traditionally are not as good as the southern teams.
A:	John Manuel: Mike that's a loaded question. Weather and the schedule are the two big reasons why the Sun Belt (the region, not the conference) dominates college baseball. In a story you can read in the next BA, we'll touch on the new Division I baseball issues committee the NCAA has created. It meets Jan. 11-12 and will begin with a presentation by Big 10 commissioner Jim Delaney regarding a change-of-season proposal, which we wrote about in last year's college preview. I personally believe moving the CWS back a month and having a starting date in late February or early March is the best solution, even though that solution wipes out summer college baseball. I don't think that will ever happen, though.

Q:	Todd from Starkville, MS asks: How are our bulldogs going to do this year? It seems every year people tell Ron Polk his team is not gonna be any good he goes to Omaha. I know they lost a few guys but they have some talent there as always. What do you think of them?
A:	John Manuel: Well, we like Mississippi State; we have the 'Dogs 31st in our preseason Top 50. They have the same question they have had the last few years--will they hit? John Mungle, Brad Corley, Craig Tatum and the rest of that sophomore class needs to man up and produce some runs. Also, Paul Maholm was a three-year ace, and that's hard to replace, though Allan Johnson should be solid. Polk's teams always compete hard, but the SEC is really, really deep and tough this year. This might be as good as the SEC has been since 1997, when LSU beat Alabama for the national title. Eight SEC teams should get bids this year, and any of them would be dangerous in Omaha.

Q:	CW from NC asks: What's your take on B.C. this year? Is Chris Lambert going to be a one man show, or do they have enough talent surrounding him to make a run in the Big East?
A:	John Manuel: Lambert has help, and BC should challenge for a regional bid in the Big East. Lefty Kevin Shepherd is throwing in the 88-90 range and gives BC a great 1-2 punch in the rotation. Drew Locke is the one who needs help; B.C. didn't hit as much as it needed to last year to complement that pitching and make up for its subpar defense.

Q:	Tom from Atlanta asks: Who do you see coming out of the Atlantic Sun Conference this year to earn regional bids. Can UCF rebound from an off year?
A:	John Manuel: Florida Atlantic is the favorite for us by a healthy margin. FAU has a lot of talent back and will be trying all-league performer Jeff Fiorentino behind the plate; if he doesn't work there, he may play third and he could always move back to the outfield. Central Florida should be better, it's a big junior class and a few of those guys went through sophomore slumps. As usual, FAU, UCF, Jacksonville and Stetson are the top four teams in the league. Don't be surprised if a veteran Belmont team makes noise again, too.

Q:	Mike the Tiger from Baton Rouge, Louisiana asks: Seems as though LSU is really loaded with talent this year. They should have a great chance at going all the way at Omaha this year too. With all the talent on this year's team. I have been hearing that each and every position could be drafted and along with several pitchers. They could have as many a dozen players drafted this year. What are your thoughts on this happening? Has any other team had their whole team drafted?
A:	John Manuel: Mike, LSU is loaded, no doubt. If Rice didn't have all that pitching back. LSU would have been a preseason No. 1 team. As for having a dozen drafted, well, Miami had 11 drafted off its national championship 2001 team, and two others signed pro contracts. LSU's top draft is probably RF Jon Zeringue. The Tigers need good health from two pitchers to make this season special, though: LHP Lane Mestepey has to show he's back after missing 2003, and closer Brandon Nall has to overcome the shoulder problem that sidelined him last year. If they are good, LSU will be scary.

Q:	Bob from Buffalo, NY asks: John, Is Thomas Diamond for real? Does the New Orleans star have a chance to go in the Top 5 in the June draft?
A:	John Manuel: Diamond is for real . . . 96 K's in 69 innings isn't enough for you? He dominated the Northwoods League and has one of the best fastballs in college. The Top 5 looks like a stretch right now only because of the pitching depth of this year's draft. Justin Verlander, the Rice trio, Jered Weaver and Jeremy Sowers are likely to be drafted ahead of Diamond if the draft were held today, but there's a whole season to play. Let's see how Diamond reacts to being a starter all year. We expect he'll help carry coach Randy Bush's team to a regional bid.

Q:	John from Queens, NY asks: John: After his very impressive performance in the Cape Cod League this past summer, do you see David Purcey as a first round pick this year?
A:	John Manuel: It sounds like Purcey had more admirers prior to last season. He has big stuff, no question, but scouts seem like they are waiting for him to put it all together. He was draft-eligible as a sophomore and pressed a bit; a relaxed Purcey would go a long way toward helping OU return to regional play.

Q:	bud from Sunny Honolulu, Hawaii asks: Thanks for your great coverage of college baseball and for taking the time to do these chats. How does the University of Hawaii look this year? With Rice probably a lock to win the WAC title and automatic berth, can Hawaii hope for an at large bid? Is this the year Coach Trapasso completes the turnaround? Any teams from the WAC to watch for at large bids? Thanks.
A:	John Manuel: Bud, thanks for the kind words. This is year three for coach Trapasso out there, and this should be the year Hawaii fans start seeing results. The Ranbows have a lot of pitching to choose from, and JC transfer Robbie Wilder should be an exciting offensive talent in center field. The WAC has taken a hit with Sam Piraro's poor health really sidetracking a San Jose State program that was on the rise, but both Hawaii and Fresno State are on the right track. The league of course will be pretty much wrecked soon when Rice leaves for Conference USA, and Louisiana Tech could bolt for C-USA as well if TCU goes to the Mountain West, so who knows what the future holds for Hawaii and the rest of the league.

Q:	Todd from Wichita asks: What did you see the strengths to be of Wichita State to rank them at #14?
A:	John Manuel: Veteran team in the field and at the plate, excellent pitching and coaching, and a No. 1 starter in Mike Pelfrey who might be the best ever to pitch at Wichita State. Considering they've had the likes of Braden Looper and Darren Dreifort in there, that's saying something. The Shockers should return to the top of the MVC.

Q:	Joe Balsinger from Bellflower asks: What do you think Long Beach State's chances are getting back to Omaha? Besides losing Abe Alvarez, they have Weaver back and 5 position players are back which led the nation in fielding.Thanks
A:	John Manuel: Great point, the Dirtbags can pick it. Jered Weaver goes toe-to-toe with Jeff Niemann as the nation's top pitcher, and coach Mike Weathers has Long Beach State getting better every year; it's really impressive to take over for a legend like Dave Snow and make the program better. If John Bowker stays healthy and gives the lineup some thump, LBSU has a shot to dethrone Fullerton in the Big West. SoCal fans are very lucky to have such great college baseball to watch . . . now go watch it!

Q:	bernard from new orleans asks: I'm a big Tulane fan and was wondering how their starting pitching will do this season? Will Joey Charron start, or will he be used out of the bullpen?Also, who will play shortstop Junior Tommy Manzella or freshman standout Phillip Stringer?
A:	John Manuel: Charron will close, because Tulane has plenty of starting pitching in Mohl, Crowel and Hahn, all back from last year. Stringer should step right in at short with Manzella at second, but they could always flip if Stringer struggles. The Green Wave should be very, very solid this year. Watch for Brian Bogusevic, who was lights-out in the fall and might make a big step forward this year as a Northern kid just getting acclimated to the competition and taking advantage of the opportunity to play and develop year-round.

Q:	Chad Goldberg from Washington, DC asks: John- Is there a better OF in the country than Stanford's with Brian Hall, Sam Fuld, and Danny Putnam?
A:	John Manuel: Not by a long shot. Hard to imagine losing Carlos Quentin but still having the nation's best outfield. Getting Sam Fuld back is so huge for the Cardinal, and Danny Putnam must have turned some heads last year (esp. last summer), earning a first-team All-America spot. Hall is the X-factor, a versatile talent who can steal a base, and he should be better offensively now that he's settled into one position.

Q:	Timmy McIntosh from Madison, MS asks: What is your view on Ole Miss. With Alan Horne transferring what state does that leave their pitching staff. I know we got some good young arms and have Seth and Stephen and top recruiting class. Seems Bianco has got it going on. Thanks
A:	John Manuel: Almost done, but Tim has blown our big scoop from the ABCA Convention. Alan Horne, a 2001 first-round pick, has transferred to Chipola (Fla.) JC, closer to his home in Marianna, Fla. Not sure what Alan gains; he was draft-eligible this year as a redshirt sophomore returning from Tommy John surgery. Ole Miss should still be good, with Stephen Head and Mark Hollimon fronting the rotation, but that's a big loss. You just don't replace a guy getting a full ride who was a first-round pick that leaves at the semester. Ask USC how hard it is to replace a talent like that; they're still hurting from Chico and Howell.

Q:	Mike from Montgomery, IL asks: What have you heard about the recovery of Notre Dame's Grant Johnson, and if he's healthy what would his draft status be?
A:	John Manuel: Last question . . . I had a lot of great questions, just not the time to answer them all. Grant is throwing pain-free, but he has yet to really cut loose off a mound, so a lot of questions will be answered this spring with him. Whether his stuff comes back to its 2002 level still is not known, so the same has to be said for his draft status. He's a quality person and competitor, and he'll help Notre Dame whether he has that ace stuff or not. Chris Neisel is back to front the rotation and freshmen Jeff Manship and Derik Olvey will contribute a lot for the Irish this year. John Manuel: Thanks a lot for all the great questions. We'll be doing Defend the Poll chats again this year, every other Tuesday, and our first in-season Top 25 will be coming up Feb. 2, so our next poll chat should be Feb. 3. Stay tuned for the college preview issue coming to the website soon.

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Texas No. 1 in 2003 Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Poll

The defending national champions, who rolled to a 57-15 overall record last season, return six position player starters and eight outstanding pitchers. Four of those players have been named Louisville Slugger Pre-Season All-Americans in LHP Justin Simmons (16-1, 2.52 ERA) and RHP Huston Street (14 SV, 4-1, 0.96 ERA), possibly the top starting pitcher and closer in college baseball today, along with 2B Tim Moss (.371, 16 2B, 39 RBI, 40 SB) and RF Dustin Majewski (.401, 10 HR, 20 2B, 50 RBI).

Majewski was a catalyst for the offense during Texas’ run for a fifth national title as he batted a team-high .471 with 16 runs scored, 9 doubles, one triple, 5 home runs and 21 RBI during post-season action. Moss led Texas in six offensive categories, including hits (112), triples (7) and stolen bases (40).

Pitching and defense should again be sensational for the Longhorns. One year ago, Texas finished second in the nation in earned run average with a 2.83 mark. Incredibly, nine pitchers had ERAs under 3.00. The staff’s strikeout to walk ratio was stunning with 536 strikeouts and only 171 walks. Opponents could only muster an anemic batting average of .233 against Longhorn pitching.

On defense, Texas was fifth in the nation with a .972 fielding percentage. The Longhorns are hardly chopped liver on offense as well. Texas ranked third in the nation with 164 doubles as eight players hit 10 or more last season.

The Longhorns were extremely disciplined at the plate with 262 walks in 72 games. When players got on base, the team swiped 100 of 126 bases. If that wasn’t enough, Texas employs a sophisticated bunting attack that drives opponents buggy.

Beyond the obvious talent Texas has back, the team is extremely experienced with veterans who have played in many high stakes games and flourished. There are 15 players on the squad who are juniors or seniors this season. In addition, the Longhorns landed the sixth best recruiting class in the nation in 2002 which is filled with superb athletes and pitchers.

The Collegiate Baseball Preseason Division I Top 40 Poll


    TEAM                02 RECORD    PTS   02 RANK
    ----                ---------    ---   -------

 1.*Texas                (57-15)     496       1
 2. Florida St.          (60-14)     493       9
 3. USC                  (37-24)     490      12 
 4.*Rice                 (52-14)     489       7
 5. Georgia Tech         (52-16)     485       5
 6.*LSU                  (44-22)     484      11
 7.*Fullerton St.        (37-22)     479      28
 8.*S. Carolina          (57-18)     477       2
 9.*Stanford             (47-18)     475       4
10. Houston              (48-17)     470      10 
11. Mississippi St.      (34-24-1)   468      --
12. Arizona St.          (37-21)     464      26
13. Long Beach St.       (39-21)     462      27
14.*Miami                (34-29)     458      17
15. Wake Forest          (47-13-1)   457      14
16. Richmond             (53-13)     456      13 
17. Baylor               (36-26)     450      --
18. Clemson              (54-18)     449       3
19. Notre Dame           (50-18)     447       6
20. S. Alabama           (42-19)     445      25
21. Florida Atlantic     (46-21)     440      15 
22. Nebraska             (47-21)     438       8
23. Tulane               (36-27)     437      --
24.*SW Missouri St.      (43-21)     432      --
25. California           (29-27)     430      --
26. C. Florida           (41-22)     424      --
27. Oklahoma             (35-27)     423      --
28. James Madison        (44-16)     419      --
29. Ohio St.             (38-20-1)   416      --
30. Wichita St.          (47-17)     411      22
31. Kent St.             (37-22)     408      --
32. Stetson              (42-19)     405      --
33. Georgia              (32-29)     403      --
34. N. Carolina          (43-21)     398      19
35. Texas Tech           (42-20)     395      24
36. E. Carolina          (43-20-1)   392      --
37. Southern             (45-10)     390      --
38. Florida Int'l        (41-20)     386      --
39. Oklahoma St.         (37-21)     380      --
40. Auburn               (34-26)     379      --

Baseball America's 2003 Preseason College Top 25

DURHAM, N.C.–For the second time in three seasons, a talent-laden Georgia Tech team has garnered the top spot in Baseball America's preseason Top 25 college baseball rankings.

Coach Danny Hall, entering his 10th season with the Yellow Jackets, has four preseason All-Americans on his squad, including two first-teamers in outfielder Matt Murton and lefthander Kyle Bakker. The Yellow Jackets were also the preseason choice in 2001, but injuries to key players such as third baseman Mark Teixeira did in that team. Georgia Tech rebounded with a surprise trip to the College World Series last season and returns most of the team intact.

Rice and Stanford, which also reached the CWS last year, check in at Nos. 2 and 3, with Florida State and defending national champion Texas rounding out the first five. Among other notables, No. 18 Stetson checks into the preseason Top 25 for the first time since 1997; No. 25 Virginia Commonwealth makes its first preseason appearance since 1991; and No. 24 Florida Atlantic makes its first-ever appearance in the preseason rankings.

The staff of Baseball America determines the Top 25 rankings.

The Preseason Baseball America Division I Top 25 college baseball Poll 

    TEAM                02 RECORD    02 RANK  
    ----                ---------    ------- 
 
 1. Georgia Tech         (52-16)        8  
 2.*Rice                 (52-14)        5  
 3.*Stanford             (47-18)        4  
 4. Florida St.          (60-14)        7  
 5.*Texas                (57-15)        1  
 6. USC                  (37-24)       14  
 7. Wake Forest          (47-13)       12  
 8. Arizona St.          (37-21)       22  
 9.*LSU                  (44-22)       11  
10. Baylor               (36-26)       --  
11. Houston              (48-17)       10  
12. Notre Dame           (50-18)        6  
13.*Fullerton St.        (37-22)       --  
14.*S. Carolina          (57-18)        2  
15. Richmond             (53-13)       16  
16. Long Beach St.       (39-21)       21  
17. Mississippi St.      (34-24)       --  
18. Stetson              (42-19)       --  
19. Clemson              (54-17)        3  
20. Nebraska             (47-21)        9  
21. Auburn               (34-26)       --  
22. N. Carolina          (43-21)       17  
23. S. Alabama           (42-19)       --  
24. Florida Atlantic     (46-21)       19  
25. Va. Commonwealth     (38-27)       --  

By John Manuel
January 17, 2003

1. Georgia Tech
2002 Record (Ranking): 52-16 (8th). RPI: 5th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Danny Hall (396-172, 9 years).

Georgia Tech ranks first in Baseball America’s preseason poll. Stop us if you’ve heard this one before.

Yellow Jackets junior left fielder Matt Murton, for one, just might. Murton was a freshman on the 2001 Georgia Tech team that started out No. 1, only to finish the season out of the Top 25 altogether.

"I read once that, ‘Flattery is all right as long as you don’t inhale,’" said Murton, quoting "The Mental Game of Baseball," written by former Athletics officials Harvey Dorfman and Karl Kuehl. "Being No. 1 comes with a lot of flattery. We had a lot of draft-eligible guys that year. The will to win was there, but when Mark (Teixeira) got hurt, it’s almost like that team lost its edge."

Teixeira went down in February with a broken ankle, and after that little went right for the 41-20 Jackets. Even Teixeira’s return as a late-season DH couldn’t reverse a 0-2 regional record and season-ending loss to rival Georgia, which went on to Omaha.

Danny Hall’s first Georgia Tech team in 1994 also was a preseason No. 1 and it made it to the national championship game before falling to Oklahoma. That team featured Nomar Garciaparra, Jay Payton, Brad Rigby and Jason Varitek—all of whom were drafted in the first 40 picks that year and went on to play in the big leagues.

The more recent Yellow Jackets looked almost as good on paper as the ’94 team. Teixeira was the reigning College Player of the Year, and he had a talented supporting cast that included pitchers Kevin Cameron, Steve Kelly and Rhett Parrott. Inconsistency on the mound, coupled with injuries and poor infield defense, doomed the ’01 Jackets.

"It says ‘pre’ for a reason," Hall said. "That means that you haven’t played any games yet. That’s only on paper. I think that our team understands that totally. I think that our team a couple of years ago understood that also, but we had some adversity with Mark Teixeira going down and other guys getting hurt, and we did not handle that well."

This is a different Yellow Jackets team, starting with the coaching staff. When top assistant Mike Trapasso left Atlanta for Hawaii that summer, Hall retooled. He lured Bobby Moranda from conference rival Wake Forest to be an associate head coach and to handle the pitchers, then brought rising star Scott Stricklin from Vanderbilt to be the recruiting coordinator and work with hitters. The combination has brought a different approach and intensity to the program.

"The personalities of the coaches coincide with coach Hall very well," Murton said. "Coach Moranda emphasizes preparation, and if you work hard in practice and you’re prepared, then you’re going to be more comfortable and relaxed in the game."

Moranda’s first staff last year led Georgia Tech back to Omaha for the first time since ’94. Six-foot-9 lefthander Kyle Bakker (an Omaha native) won 13 games. Four other pitchers were drafted, including converted infielder Chris Goodman, who developed into a reliable No. 2 starter.

Bakker returns, as do Goodman and Jeff Watchko (also drafted) and promising sophomore Kyle Schmidt. Unheralded junior Brian Burks (10-7, 3.87) also is back in a troubleshooting relief role. And if that’s not enough, the staff has been bolstered by two of the nation’s top freshmen, Micah Owings and Jason Neighborgall.

Owings, who hit 69 home runs in high school and will double as the Jackets’ DH, was a second-round pick of the Rockies. Neighborgall, whose fastball reached 99 mph in fall practice, may be the team’s best prospect if he stays healthy.

The Georgia Tech lineup is just as impressive. Murton projects as a first-round pick in June, while Freshman All-Americans Eric Patterson and Jeremy Slayden are potential first-rounders a year from now. Freshman Tyler Greene, a second-round pick of the Braves in June, steps in at shortstop.

Bakker, Murton and Watchko are the only significant holdovers from the 2001 club and know fans want to see if the Yellow Jackets have learned from that year.

"Again, preparation is the key," Murton said. "There’s not much difference in talent between No. 1 and No. 2, or No. 1 and No. 5, for that matter. So we have to be more prepared and work harder than those other teams.

"Mark really gave that (2001) team its attitude, but when he got hurt, the swagger was gone. This year, we aren’t a junior-dominated team. We’re more balanced with good sophomores and freshmen, and that mixture is a good thing. We should be more prepared and have the right perspective for what we need to do as the preseason No. 1."

2. Rice
2002 Record (Ranking): 52-14 (5th). RPI: 10th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Wayne Graham (478-212, 11 years).

Keys To Success: The Owls have earned a reputation for consistently having one of the game’s best pitching staffs—they led the nation with a 2.79 ERA last year—and 2003 should be no exception. RHP Philip Humber, a potential first-round pick in 2004, and RHP Steve Herce, an unsigned ninth-round pick of the Rangers, return to front a deep rotation. Humber has better stuff, flashing a power curveball to go with a low-90s fastball. But the bullpen figures to be just as deep, led by the hard-throwing RHP David Aardsma, who dominated the Cape Cod League last summer with upper-90s cheddar and a nasty slider, and Wade Townsend.

X-Factor: 1B Vince Sinisi, a draft-eligible sophomore, will hit. OFs Austin Davis and Chris Kolkhorst are steady as well. But the Owls are looking for a more consistent season from 2B Enrique Cruz, who slumped badly in 2002 while still leading the Owls in home runs. Cruz replaces stalwart 2B Eric Arnold at second base after spending much of 2002 as a DH.

Outlook: Rice entered last year’s College World Series ranked No. 1, then fell in a pair of close games to Texas and Notre Dame. Older, wiser and just as talented, these Owls have plenty of payback on their minds and the ability to mete it out.

3. Stanford
2002 Record (Ranking): 47-18 (4th). RPI: 8th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Mark Marquess (1,093-533, 26 years).

Keys To Success: Gone is a senior class, led by All-American 2B Chris O’Riordan, that made four consecutive trips to Omaha (with four different hotel bases, as none brought the luck necessary for a national championship). Yet Stanford returns so much talent that a deserving player like sophomore C Donny Lucy (.282-3-29), a possible first-round pick in 2004, may not start. OFs Sam Fuld and Carlos Quentin, both preseason All-Americans, and 1BJohn Mayberry Jr. (the Mariners’ unsigned first-round pick) head a lineup with power, speed and depth.

X-Factor: O’Riordan and veteran infielders Scott Dragicevich and Andy Topham give way to Jonny Ash at second and the untested Tobin Swope and freshman Jed Lowrie at short. The rotation is also unsettled as it no longer has the proven RHP Jeremy Guthrie to fall back on, but LHP Tim Cunningham is back for his senior year and RHP John Hudgins is coming off a strong summer in the Cape Cod League. DH Chris Carter, who will see considerable time at first base and in left field, may miss the first month after November shoulder surgery.

Outlook: LHP Mark Romanczuk, a fifth-round pick of the Devil Rays last June, will try to accomplish what another touted freshman, RHP Mark Jecman, couldn’t last year—earning a spot in the weekend rotation. Whoever ends up as the No. 3 starter may have the luxury of sitting back and watching one of the nation’s most potent offenses put up some serious numbers.

4. Florida State
2002 Record (Ranking): 60-14 (7th). RPI: 2nd.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Mike Martin (1,239-416, 23 years).

Keys To Success: Drew will be expected to take on even more of the offensive load for the Seminoles with RBI machine Ryan Barthelemy (.357-17-94) gone, but he’ll get plenty of help from OF Tony McQuade and C Tony Richie. Richie, entering his third year as a starter, broke out with the bat last year, and this year he’s not coming off shoulder surgery. 3B Eddy Martinez-Esteve, an unsigned third-round pick, also has a potent bat, but Seminoles coaches talked more about his defense in the fall.

X-Factor: SS Stephen Drew, a favorite to be the first player drafted in 2004, is equipped for a run at older brother J.D.’s yet-to-be-duplicated 30-30 season of 1997. He’ll get offensive help from a pair of junior-college transfers in the outfield in Blake Balkcom and Matt Sauls, whose younger brother Mark is a freshman righthander for the Seminoles.

Outlook: The unexpected return of consistent LHP Matt Lynch (29-4 career mark) to the front of the rotation means Florida State, which led the Atlantic Coast Conference in ERA at 3.96, once again will be deep on the mound. Whether Lynch, RHP Mark LaMacchia (plus curveball) or LHP Trent Peterson (the staff’s best changeup) can give the ’Noles a true ace, capable of leading the team to that elusive first CWS title, is another matter. The Seminoles have motivation after last year’s super-regional upset loss to Notre Dame, but a balanced team with solid veterans and talented underclassmen has Florida State aiming for its 12th CWS trip in the Martin era.

5. Texas
2002 Record (Ranking): 57-15 (1st). RPI: 3rd.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Augie Garrido (227-142, 6 years).

Keys To Success: So much seemed to go wrong on the way to the national championship last year, but Texas weathered every challenge. The Longhorns have a little less depth, but offensive catalysts like 2B Tim Moss, maybe the nation’s top leadoff hitter, 3B Omar Quintanilla and OF Dustin Majewski return. They’ll spray liners to the gaps, while OF Eric Sultemeier and 1B J.D. Reininger are poised to provide the power lost with the graduation of 1B Jeff Ontiveros, Texas’ all-time home run leader.

X-Factor: LHP Justin Simmons won more games than any collegian last spring, but his changeup-off-his-changeup approach earns no love from scouts. He’ll have to be a rock in the rotation again as the Longhorns audition new arms in a decidedly lefthanded rotation. That includes Southern California transfer LHP J.P. Howell, a second-round pick in the 2001 draft. Texas needs consistent years out of a pair of sophomores in the middle of the diamond, SS Michael Holliman (who lost his starting job in the postseason) and C Curtis Thigpen.

Outlook: The Longhorns have the nation’s winningest pitcher (Simmons) and best-known closer in CWS most outstanding player Huston Street, and one of the nation’s top pitching coaches in Frank Anderson, whose staff fashioned a 2.83 team ERA last year. Together, they should make Texas strong enough on the hill for a spirited title defense.

6. Southern California
2002 Record (Ranking): 37-24 (14th). RPI: 29th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Mike Gillepse (645-356, 16 years).

Keys To Success: The Trojans just need to stay healthy this year. RHP Anthony Reyes, a preseason first-team All-American a year ago, has oodles of talent and experience, but he was limited to 65 innings last year by a sore elbow. LHP Fraser Dizard worked in only six innings while suffering from a ligament strain in his elbow, and RHP Brian Bannister’s 2002 season was wiped out by shoulder surgery. SS Anthony Lunetta has the most to prove after a dismal junior season, which was affected by his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

X-Factor: 3B Michael Moon has filled a number of roles for the Trojans in two seasons, from late-inning hero (remember his homer against Pepperdine in the 2001 regional opener?) to stopgap shortstop a year ago. He’s back at third base, his natural position, after working out in center field in the fall. With three of the team’s top four home run hitters gone, C/DH Jeff Clement (the high school career homers record holder) could fill a need. OF Travis McAndrews, MVP of the Great Lakes League playoffs last summer, must replace offensive leader Brian Barre in center.

Outlook: With pitching depth provided by a healthy Bannister, Dizard and Reyes, along with sophomore RHP Brett Bannister, the Trojans should be able to withstand the loss of LHP Matt Chico, a former second-round pick who was an academic casualty. They look primed for another run at the Pacific-10 Conference crown, with No. 3 Stanford and No. 8 Arizona State the main obstacles

7. Wake Forest
2002 Record (Ranking): 47-13 (12th). RPI: 6th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): George Greer (562-325, 15 years).

Keys To Success: With the exception of four-year all-star closer David Bush—breathe out, Atlantic Coast Conference hitters—Wake Forest returns intact from last year’s numbingly consistent club. The Deacons have a solid mix of pitching, hitting and defense. RHP Kyle Sleeth is this year’s top candidate for best college pitcher, having lost only to Cuba (in the gold-medal game of the World University Championship last August) since March 2001 and possessing a mid-90s fastball. 3B Jaime D’Antona is one of the nation’s premium power hitters, though scouts have questioned his attitude. OF Adam Bourassa gives the team a leadoff catalyst and one of the nation’s top defensive center fielders.

X-Factor: Sleeth can pitch only once a week, so it will be up to the remainder of the staff to pick up the slack. LHP Seth Hill and LHP Tim Morley will need to be more consistently effective than they were last year, but it will be up to RHP Adam Hanson, Bush’s set-up man for two years, to stabilize the pitching staff. He hasn’t had to close much before this season, though he had seven saves and a 1.82 ERA in that role last summer for Cotuit in the Cape Cod League. The Deacons will also need a healthy season from LHP Ben Clayton, who missed 2002 with a shoulder injury.

Outlook: The Demon Deacons hold the distinction of being the only ACC team ever to win the CWS—in 1955. This year’s team should give them their best chance since to challenge for a title. They have star power and a nice mix of complementary players like SS Ben Ingold, RF Ryan Johnson and 1B Jeff Ruziecki.

8. Arizona State
2002 Record (Ranking): 37-21 (22nd). RPI: 24th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Pat Murphy (306-164, 8 years).

Keys To Success: After a few years of modest results by the program’s lofty standards, Murphy has the kind of team he likes. These Sun Devils resemble the ’98 bunch that lost in the national title game. No stars, though OFs Rodney Allen and Andre Ethier have the bats and athleticism to pass the audition. They have a leader in SS Dustin Pedroia, a Willie Bloomquist play-alike who returns after a ground ball fractured his orbital bone last summer when he was playing for Team USA.

X-Factor: RHP Ben Thurmond, two years removed from winning 14 games at Winthrop and earning a spot on the Team USA pitching staff, hopes to bounce back after making just nine starts last year and transferring amidst charges he was overused. Thurmond, undrafted out of high school, wasn’t 100 percent in the summer or fall. Ryan Bosch and another top freshman recruit, Travis Buck, will contend for playing time in left field.

Outlook: The Sun Devils should have plenty of offense to carry the team into June, but the pitching staff may remain a work in progress. Senior LHP Robbie McClellan moves into a troubleshooting reliever role, setting up for closer RHP Ryan Schroyer, who could eventually move into the rotation.

9. Louisiana State
2002 Record (Ranking): 44-22 (11th). RPI: 9th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Smoke Laval (44-22, 1 year).

Keys To Success: Few teams can match the experience and talent of LSU’s rotation—even if two-time all-conference lefthander Lane Mestepey’s shoulder surgery may cost him the season. RHP Jake Tompkins settled down a struggling team when moved to closer last year and was MVP of LSU’s heated regional comeback against Louisiana-Lafayette. He replaces Mestepey in the rotation, joining solid holdovers in RHPs Bo Pettit and Brian Wilson.

X-Factor: No one knows how the Tigers will react without third baseman and team leader Wally Pontiff, who died of a heart ailment last summer. 3B Aaron Hill, the team’s steadiest offensive player, will step into his shoes but will need help from players like 1B Blake Gill, CF J.C. Holt and RF Jon Zeringue. Gill was MVP of the National Baseball Congress World Series last summer. Zeringue was a third-round pick in 2001 who struggled as a freshman while being moved from catcher to the outfield.

Outlook: Laval’s first year replacing his mentor, Skip Bertman, went well by most programs’ standards, but the five-time CWS champions have gone without a trip to Omaha in back-to-back years for the first time since 1986. LSU was also shut out five times in ’02, more than any year since 1978, and was blanked in the postseason three times. More runs to complement a pitching staff that led the SEC in ERA (3.43) are needed to end the Rosenblatt drought.

10. Baylor
2002 Record (Ranking): 36-26 (unranked). RPI: 25th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Steve Smith (298-180, 8 years).

Keys To Success: The Bears will make their living on the mound, with Smith saying the 2003 club has the best pitching depth in program history. That’s thanks in part to the return of LHP Jared Theodorakos and RHP Steven White, who were inconsistent as juniors, and RHP Zane Carlson, who missed last spring with a nerve injury in his arm but pitched well last summer in the Cape Cod League. But the best arms on the staff belong to LHP Trey Taylor, who averaged 13 strikeouts per nine innings as a freshman, and freshman RHP Mark McCormick, who has been clocked at 98 mph.

X-Factor: While Baylor’s pitching slipped in 2002 (4.76 ERA), its offense improved. The Bears finished second in the Big 12 Conference in batting and return five of the club’s top seven hitters. SS Trey Webb, the consensus choice as the Cape Cod League’s top defensive shortstop a year ago, handles the bat well and provides a solid top-of-the-order option.

Outlook: Baylor should challenge Texas for the top spot in the Big 12. Most of the club’s offense will come from the outfield, where the trio of Chris Durbin, Michael Griffin (moved from third base) and David Murphy need to combine for more than just 19 homers. Baylor never will be about power in its big ballpark, but the 2003 club looks like its most balanced outfit in years.

11. Houston
2002 Record (Ranking): 48-17 (10th). RPI: 7th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Rayner Noble (294-194, 8 years).

Keys To Success: If Wake Forest’s Kyle Sleeth isn’t the nation’s top pitcher, then the designation goes to RHP Brad Sullivan, the "last pitcher to beat the Longhorns." LHP Danny Zell and RHP Garrett Mock, a premium junior-college transfer, join Sullivan to give the Cougars a formidable rotation. RHP Gene Flores, who led the team in innings pitched and posted a 3.74 ERA in 2001 as a starter, has been entrusted with replacing All-America closer Jesse Crain (4-0, 0.23, 10 saves).

X-Factor: SS Stuart Musslewhite and 2B Hyung Cho are both short, stocky infielders with power and health concerns. Cho, who had a broken foot interrupt his fall, hasn’t lived up to his prep billing—something Musslewhite was on his way to doing before a shoulder injury last spring. A healthy return by both would lighten the load on 3B/1B Brett Cooley, the team’s top returning power threat. Cooley takes his power arm across the diamond to third.

Outlook: Houston will miss Crain (.309-11-47), who doubled as the Cougars shortstop, and C Chris Snyder (.343-15-71), who provided veteran leadership and a big, middle-of-the-order bat. However, the Cougars are battle-tested for their usual ambitious schedule, which includes a road trip to Louisiana State, strong tournament fields in Malibu, Calif., and Houston, and eight games against top 10 teams Rice and Baylor.

12. Notre Dame
2002 Record (Ranking): 49-18 (6th). RPI: 22nd.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Paul Mainieri (354-142, 8 years).

Keys To Success: The Fighting Irish’s run to Omaha last year shouldn’t have come as such a surprise—they were No. 5 BA’s preseason poll, after all. Many of the key offensive members of that club are gone, including outfielders Steve Stanley (.439-1-36) and Brian Stavisky (394-9-57). But most important, a standout young mound corps, led by RHPs Chris Niesel and John Axford, is back almost intact and armed with more experience—though promising sophomore RHP Grant Johnson (9-5, 3.46) was lost for the season in December with shoulder surgery.

X-Factor: SS Matt Macri was supposed to be Notre Dame’s biggest recruit last season. He was slated to close and play shortstop, but his 2002 season was wasted when he had Tommy John surgery. Healthy again, Macri may have only one year of college to prove he can hit and play in the middle of the diamond, as he is eligible for the draft in June. Macri is slated to open the season in the No. 3 spot in the batting order.

Outlook: The Irish had the luxury of veterans Andrew Bushey and Paul O’Toole sharing time at catcher last year, but have moved Javier Sanchez, their starting shortstop in Omaha last year, behind the plate. It’s not easy receiving pitchers with the kind of stuff Notre Dame parades to the mound, and if Sanchez can handle the switch, the Irish should challenge for a return CWS trip.

13. Cal State Fullerton
2002 Record (Ranking): 36-22 (unranked). RPI: 26th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): George Horton (259-116, 6 years).

Keys To Success: RHPs Chad Cordero and Wes Littleton and OF Shane Costa all were members of Team USA last summer and give Cal State Fullerton as much star power as any team in college baseball. They will be worth a lot of wins on their own. A strong recruiting class led by OF Shawn Scobee, an unsigned fifth-round pick, could give the Titans’ offense a lift out of the doldrums that kept the team out of the final rankings last season.

X-Factor: 2B Jason Corapci, the program’s former batboy who was a .330 hitter his first two seasons, has to return to that level after an injury-plagued junior season. Senior 3B Mike Martinez was off to a strong start last year before a sciatic nerve problem shelved him. A return to full health by those players would provide a big boost to the offense.

Outlook: RHPs Darric Merrell, Travis Ingle and Dustin Miller (who missed last season with elbow surgery), all have the talent to give Fullerton one of the nation’s best pitching staffs. The offense then needs to do its part for the Titans, who went to Omaha in 1999 and 2001.

14. South Carolina
2002 Record (Ranking): 57-18 (2nd). RPI: 4th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Ray Tanner (274-113, 6 years)

Keys To Success: The program excels at unearthing lightly recruited players and developing them into college stars like first baseman Yaron Peters (.377-29-95 in 2002) and catcher Tim Whittaker (.294-21-74 in 2001). Parks could fit that bill in 2003. No team has surpassed South Carolina’s 162 wins the last three seasons, and the formula of pairing grinders like 3B Brian Buscher and SS Justin Harris with potential stars such as C Landon Powell and LHP Matt Campbell has worked extremely well.

X-Factor: The versatile Harris takes over at shortstop, where the Gamecocks have had an eventual first-round pick playing for six straight seasons (Adam Everett in 1997-98, Brian Roberts in 1999 and Drew Meyer in 2000-02). Though all three projected starters are southpaws, freshman LHP Forrest Beverly will get his innings, especially if he maintains the 94 mph fastball he flashed in the fall.

Outlook: The Gamecocks started last season ranked 13th and came within a game of winning the CWS. To pull a similar trick, the Gamecocks must effectively replace Peters, the SEC player of the year, and Meyer (.359-6-40, 39 SB), the first college position player drafted. However, veterans such as LHP Steven Bondurant, Buscher, Harris, 2B Kevin Melillo and Powell are a good start.

15. Richmond
2002 Record (Ranking): 53-13 (16th). RPI: 15th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Ron Atkins (560-405, 18 years).

Keys To Success: Not many college baseball teams can boast being 40 games over .500, but the Spiders were and bring back seven position players and their top two starters from that team, which had just one senior. David Reaver moves from third base to shortstop to fill one hole; he and CF Bryan Pritz, who both had more walks than strikeouts, form a potent tandem atop the lineup. RF Vito Chiaravalloti and C Adam Tidball provide the power to bring them home, with Chiaravalloti moving to right field from first base.

X-Factor: RHP Tim Stauffer, a preseason first-team All-American, and RHP Mike McGirr, who won 27 games between them, lost their running mate when LHP Tom Martin had Tommy John surgery in the summer. The lefthander won 15 games the last two years. The Spiders may not skip a beat, though, as Rice had a solid freshman season and will step into the rotation in his place. He has similar stuff but not quite the command.

Outlook: Richmond advanced to within one game of the CWS last year, setting a school-record for wins. "We have a chance to be a better team than last year," Atkins says, "and not win as many games." The Atlantic-10 Conference should once again be the Spiders’ for the taking. Health, their opponent and a little luck will determine how they spin their postseason.

16. Long Beach State
2002 Record (Ranking): 39-21 (21st). RPI: 21st.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Mike Weathers (39-21, 1 year)

Keys To Success: The 49ers returned to regional play last year, thanks to timely hitting and breakout seasons from LHP Abe Alvarez and RHP Jered Weaver, one of the nation’s best pitching tandems. Both pitchers are back after successful summers—Alvarez with Team USA and Weaver in the Alaska League. Throw in RHP Matt Paz, the staff ace in 2001 who missed last season with Tommy John surgery, and an experienced bullpen, and the Dirtbags are stout on the mound.

X-Factor: With Blair Field’s vast dimensions, the Beach always relies heavily on pitching and defense, but that will be especially true this year. The top three hitters from 2002 are gone, meaning C Brad Davis, 1B Mike Hofius and 3B Todd Jennings must carry a heavier load.

Outlook: No one will play a tougher schedule than Long Beach State, which has home series against Arizona State, California and Louisiana State, as well as road sets with Baylor, Southern California and Wichita State on its non-league slate. How well their newcomers survive that stretch will determine how far the Dirtbags can go.

17. Mississippi State
2002 Record (Ranking): 34-24 (unranked). RPI: 50th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Ron Polk (922-446, 23 years)

Keys To Success: Polk says his 2003 club has the deepest pitching staff he’s had since his first year in Starkville in 1976. Start with LHP Paul Maholm, a proven SEC ace. LHP Todd Nicholas redshirted a year ago but flashed the potential of his live arm in the fall and will get a look in the rotation as well. RHP Jon Papelbon is a solid, dependable closer.

X-Factor: Pitching and defense are Mississippi State’s strengths, but it’s going to take an improved offense to make the Bulldogs a national contender. Brinson was the team’s lone power threat a year ago and he’ll need help from veterans like Steve Gendron, Matthew Maniscalco and Jon Mungle, and talented freshmen like OFs Brad Corley and Joseph Hunter.

Outlook: When Polk isn’t tilting at windmills deriding the NCAA, he’s busy turning teams into winners. That’s why 2002 was such a surprise. In his first season back in Starkville, the pitching-rich Bulldogs bogged down under the weight of a punchless offense, leaving Mississippi State at home for the first time since 1995. Polk won’t let that happen a second year in a row.

18. Stetson
2002 Record (Ranking): 42-19 (unranked). RPI: 30th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Pete Dunn (852-505, 24 years).

Keys To Success: Few teams can match the middle-of-the-order firepower the Hatters present. 2B Brian Snyder, C Chris Westervelt and 1B Bryan Zenchyk have put up big numbers since they were freshmen. Westervelt led the Atlantic Sun in homers and hits last year, Snyder led in runs and went on to have an all-star summer in the Cape Cod League, and Zenchyk is coming off back-to-back .383 seasons.

X-Factor: 3B-RHP Andy Wilson does it all for the Hatters. He closes and occupies a key spot in the batting order. He’ll take his power arm to third base this year, switching positions with Snyder.

Outlook: The Hatters return a quartet of senior pitchers who combined to win 29 games a year ago, including RHP Roger Lincoln, who led the league with 12 wins. LHP Cy McCuen is a rare junior-college recruit who could log important innings. Stetson’s only real question is in the outfield, where it needs to find a new combination, and at shortstop, where SS Rusty Beale’s average fell precipitously from 2001. But he is healthy and should give the team one of the nation’s best infields.

19. Clemson
2002 Record (Ranking): 54-17 (3rd). RPI: 1st.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Jack Leggett (434-172, 9 years)

Keys To Success: Few teams lost as much firepower as the Tigers, who relied heavily on the offense of Player of the Year Khalil Greene, and All-Americans Jeff Baker and 1B Michael Johnson as they finished third at the CWS. The three combined for 77 home runs. The return of Johnson, an unsigned second-round pick, softens the blow, but he broke an ankle during a slide in fall practice. He should be ready for his senior season but will need support in the batting order from players like C Collin Mahoney and 3B Brad McCann.

X-Factor: While 13-game winners Matt Henrie and Steve Reba moving on, Clemson will need big seasons from RHP Stephen Jackson and LHP Tyler Lumsden, the best arms on the staff. Command is all that stands between Lumsden becoming the program’s best lefthander since ex-big leaguer Brian Barnes. Jackson needs to shed his potential tag and get it done on the field. RHPs Jeff Hahn and Patrick Hogan took turns with the closer role in 2002 and combined for nearly 100 innings of experience.

Outlook: Clemson made its most spirited run ever at the CWS a year ago, only to be eliminated in two straight games by archrival South Carolina. It’s unusual to have so much uncertainty for a revamped Clemson team, and it should be only a matter of time before talented freshmen like righthanders Patrick Clayton and Kris Harvey find a way to contribute.

20. Nebraska
2002 Record (Ranking): 46-21 (9th). RPI: 14th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Mike Anderson (0-0, 1st year).

Keys To Success: The Huskers have depth on the mound with four starters back in the rotation and experience in the bullpen. LHP Aaron Marsden had a strong summer and picked up the mantle of No. 1 starter from four-year standout Shane Komine when the righthander was injured last spring. He must do so again for the Huskers to have any chance of going back down Interstate 80 to Omaha a third straight June.

X-Factor: While CF Jeff Leise may be hard-pressed to improve on his breakout junior season, DH Matt Hopper has much to prove as a senior. After hitting 21 homers in 2000 as a redshirt freshman, he’s hit that many combined in the last two seasons. Now he must come back from thumb and shoulder surgeries that could delay his 2003 start.

Outlook: For the first time since 1998, when Dave Van Horn took over the Cornhuskers program, there’s uneasiness in Lincoln. It’s not that Nebraska isn’t going to be good; it’s just that Van Horn, the coach who engineered the program’s rapid turnaround, and Komine, the player most responsible for back-to-back CWS appearances, are gone. Anderson helped develop the offensive strategy that went on to lead the Big 12 in runs scored last year, and many of those pieces are back.

21. Auburn
2002 Record (Ranking): 34-26 (unranked). RPI: 36th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Steve Renfroe (71-47, 2 years).

Keys To Success: The Tigers earned a regional bid despite going through a rebuilding year in 2002, and all but three contributors return. The team has a good balance of speed and power with CF Javon Moran, a well-above-average runner, igniting a line-drive, active offense from the leadoff spot, and C Bobby Huddleston and the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Kurt Amonite providing much of the power. But the Tigers also expect more offense from sophomores like OF Sean Gamble, 2B Tug Hulett (.336, 29 steals in summer Coastal Plain League) and SS Chuck Jeroloman.

X-Factor: Freshmen played a pivotal role last year, and the Tigers are counting on Josh Bell and RF Clete Thomas, both unsigned fifth-round picks, to contribute immediately this season. Bell, normally a catcher, moves to third in deference to Huddleston.

Outlook: Renfroe expected a veteran staff to pitch a little better last year. RHPs Eric Brandon, Colby Paxton and Levale Speigner each added a run to their 2001 ERAs and had trouble with the longball—Speigner gave up 18 homers. If the veteran staff pitches closer to its 2001 form, the Tigers might play host to a regional at the nation’s best college ballpark.

22. North Carolina
2002 Record (Ranking): 42-21 (17th). RPI: 13th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Mike Fox (161-82, 4 years).

Keys To Success: The loss to pro ball of Russ Adams, Adam Greenberg and Chris Maples shifts the offensive focus even more to power. Sean Farrell, a former walk-on, is the team’s top returning hitter and helped the Tar Heels rank fifth in the country with 108 homers last season.

X-Factor: UNC’s real strength is on the mound, but no one on a deep staff has performed consistently for a full season. LHP Daniel Moore has a great pro body and an electric arm, but his mechanics were haywire much of last year. RHP Gary Bakker faded down the stretch after a strong start. RHP Scott Manshack will be in the rotation full-time for the first time. They must make up for the loss of Carter Harrell (team-high eight wins), an academic casualty.

Outlook: Even without Harrell, the Tar Heels have a quality bullpen with RHPs Michael Gross, Whitley Benson (2-1, 3.99) and Kevin Brower (3-1, 2.82). They should combine with the starters to lead UNC to its fifth regional in six seasons.

23. South Alabama
2002 Record (Ranking): 42-19 (unranked). RPI: 19th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Steve Kittrell (756-412, 19 years).

Keys To Success: South Alabama is clearly the class of the Sun Belt Conference, which sent four teams to regional play last year. The Jaguars have always relied on junior-college recruits to stay atop the league. OF Ryan Mulhern, who led the nation’s jucos in homers in 2000, enters his third year in the program as the offense’s undisputed leader. OF Gabe Mayorga was named the MVP of last year’s Junior CWS for champion Central Arizona. 1B Adam Lind, an eighth-round pick of the Twins last year, adds a potent bat.

X-Factor: RHP Tony Neal, another juco transfer, won nine games in 2001 but missed last season with Tommy John surgery. His presence will lighten the load on talented RHP Clark Girardeau, who stumbled having to carry the rotation alone. With his low 90s fastball and plus slider, Girardeau is poised for a breakout year with Neal and RHP Caleb Crosby (another JC alum) providing support.

Outlook: South Alabama’s biggest challenge in 2003 may just be getting out of its own conference as Florida International and Louisiana-Lafayette have solid teams. The newcomers will have to blend quickly with the talented holdovers.

24. Florida Atlantic
2002 Record (Ranking): 46-21 (19th). RPI: 37th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Kevin Cooney (519-346, 15 years)

Keys To Success: While the top three programs in the Atlantic Sun Conference—Central Florida, Florida Atlantic and Stetson—have jostled for national honors the last few years, the Owls became the first to break through and win a regional—at Alabama, no less. The return of RHPs Chris Pillsbury and Danny Core and LHP Travis NeSmith to the mound makes them a threat to do it again.

X-Factor: Though they lost the offensive output of L.J. Biernhaum (.350-16-68), the regional MVP who has since moved on to pro ball, the Owls have hitters. Start with 3B Mike Cox, the team’s leading home run hitter. They also bring back the multi-tooled OF Jeff Fiorentino, as well as big league progeny C Robby Orton and 2B Derek Hutton.

Outlook: Florida Atlantic has always been overshadowed in South Florida by Miami’s success, but recruiting coordinator John McCormack keeps bringing in talent, and Cooney has shaped it into a Top 25 contender. The Owls got past the novelty status they garnered with a 34-game win streak and 54-win season in 1999 by beating Alabama last year; now they seek to reach the proverbial next level.

25. Virginia Commonwealth
2002 Record (Ranking): 38-27 (unranked). RPI: 64th.
Coach (Record, Tenure): Paul Keyes (294-183, 8 years)

Keys To Success: The Rams have one of the better pitching staffs in the country with the return of the Marshall twins, both LHPs. Sean won nine games as a freshman, while Brian had a hand in nearly half the team’s wins last year. The arrival of George Washington transfer RHP Justin Orenduff, with a low-90s fastball and filthy slider, makes for a fearsome staff.

X-Factor: OF Jose Pabon and 1B Danny Lopaze, high school teammates, arrived at VCU with plenty of hype and weren’t supposed to last until their senior seasons. Each has shown flashes, but a consistent final season from the duo would make a big difference to the Rams offense.

Outlook: The Rams have earned a regional bid in four of the last five years, and Keyes has shown an ability to adapt to his talent. SS Anthony Granato, who hit .519 last season in junior college, hopes to follow in the footsteps of Josh Arteaga, a juco transfer who sparked the Rams to the 2001 regionals.

The Rest Of The Best	The Skinny
26. Tulane (36-27)	Two-way terror Michael Aubrey seeks healthy junior season.
27. Southwest Mo. State (43-21)	Killer Z’s—Brad Ziegler, Bob Zimmermann—head veteran staff.
28. James Madison (44-16)	Dukes return offense is intact, but must replace top two arms.
29. Georgia (32-29)	Second-year coach Dave Perno leans on junior 3B Lee Mitchell.
30. Mississippi (37-19)	Rebels seek to reverse last year’s late-season fade.
31. Miami (34-29)	First time Hurricanes haven’t made preseason Top 25 since 1990.
32. California (29-27)	3B/1B Conor Jackson (.382-16-61) is Pac-10’s top returning hitter.
33. San Diego State (43-23)	Alabama transfer Peter Stonard joins Team Gwynn at shortstop.
34. Oklahoma State (37-21)	Third-team All-American RHP Scott Baker gives Cowboys an ace.
35. Texas A&M (35-24)	Aggies seek return to regionals behind RHP Matt Farnum.
36. Ohio State (38-20)	Class of Big 10 boasts LHP Scott Lewis, strong sophomore class.
37. Texas Tech (42-20)	Red Raiders come off probation, back to 11.7 scholarships.
38. Alabama (51-15)	Taylor Tankersley (8-5, 2.62) leads southpaw mound trio.
39. Oklahoma (35-27)	Power LHP David Purcey comes off dominant summer in Alaska.
40. Central Florida (41-22)	Athletic OFs Dee Brown, Clay Timpner set table on offense.
41. South Florida (35-29)	C Devin Ivany, SS Myron Leslie lend thunder to Bulls’ lineup.
42. Wichita State (47-17)	LHP David Sanders inherits tradition-rich role as Shockers ace.
43. Georgia Southern (39-25)	Talented pitchers point Eagles toward fourth straight regional.
44. Pepperdine (31-32)	Return of injured SS Kevin Estrada buoys Waves’ hopes.
45. Fla. International (41-20)	RHP Derek DeCarlo went a perfect 11-0 as freshman.
46. Louisiana-Lafayette (39-23)	Senior LHP Andy Gros still around from 2000 CWS team.
47. Washington (33-27)	SS Tila Reynolds, RHP Sean White lend senior leadership.
48. San Jose State (45-17)	RHP Matt Durkin (11-3, 2.75) likely to avoid sophomore slump.
49. UC Irvine (33-26)	1B Matt Anderson, LHP Glenn Swanson lead Anteaters into Year II.
50. Kent State (37-22)	Veteran club takes its cue from senior RHP Dirk Hayhurst.

Baseball Weekly/ESPN 2003 Preseason Top 25 Coaches' Poll

 1.*Texas (19)           (57-15)      965   
 2. Georgia Tech (15)    (52-16)      923 
 3. Florida St. (2)      (60-14)      909  
 4.*Rice (3)             (52-14)      881  
 5.*Stanford (1)         (47-18)      837 
 6. USC (1)              (37-24)      826 
 7.*LSU                  (44-22)      724 
 8.*S. Carolina          (57-18)      652
 9. Arizona St.          (37-21)      640 
10.*Fullerton St.        (37-22)      617 
11. Houston              (48-17)      594
12. Wake Forest          (47-13-1)    582 
13. Baylor               (36-26)      496
14. Notre Dame           (50-18)      465 
15. Clemson              (54-17)      444 
16. Long Beach St.       (39-21)      410 
17. Mississippi St.      (34-24-1)    389 
18. Richmond             (53-13)      310 
19. Nebtraska            (47-21)      239
20.*Miami                (34-29)      234 
21. Auburn               (34-26)      168 
22. S. Alabama           (42-19)      158 
23. Stetson              (42-19)      139
24. N. Carolina          (43-21)       98 
25. Florida Atlantic     (46-21)       87 

Others receiving votes: Tulane (67), Wichita St. (56), Oklahoma (38), 
*SW Missouri St. (37), Florida (36), Texas Tech (34), California (32), 
Alabama (29), San Diego St. (20), James Madison (20), Central Florida (19), 
Ohio St. (19), Oklahoma St. (19), Arizona (16), Va. Commonwealth (13), 
Florida Int'l (12), Mississippi (12), Oregon St. (10), La-Lafayette (7), 
Tennessee (6), Georgia (5), Washington (5), New Orleans (5), Arkansas (5), 
Northridge St. (5), UNLV (3), Rutgers (2), UCLA (1), Kent St. (1), 
Louisville (1), Texas A&M (1), San Diego (1), UC-Irvine (1)

By Dana Heiss Grodin, USA TODAY Sports Weekly

Another season of college baseball is under way. We examine the teams expected to challenge for a trip to Omaha.

1. Texas

The Longhorns are atop the preseason poll because the nucleus of last year's championship team returns; specifically, six position players and All-America pitchers Justin Simmons and Huston Street.

Simmons (16-1, 2.52 ERA) led the nation in victories last season, including two in the College World Series. As a true freshman last year, Street (4-1, 0.96, 14 saves) was named the CWS Most Valuable Player with four saves in four games. His ERA was the lowest nationally among pitchers with at least 40 innings.

Offensively, the Longhorns return Big 12 batting leader Dustin Majewski (.401, 10 homers, 50 RBI), who was drafted in the 12th round by Boston last June.

The graduation of Jeff Ontiveros (20 homers) leaves a power void, but new first baseman J.D. Reininger demonstrated his big bat last season with 13 home runs at designated hitter. Top infielders Tim Moss, Omar Quintanilla and Michael Holliman also return.

As the team prepares for another title run in 2003, Texas also must contend with two years of probation. The penalty was handed down in November after the school was found guilty of violating honesty standards.

The NCAA determined that former volunteer coach Richard "Trip" Couch received a $40,000 salary from a beverage distribution company but did not perform any work for the business. Instead, Couch spent considerable time recruiting and working exclusively at baseball-related activities.

Texas must forfeit a scholarship for this season and off-campus recruiting is restricted to one assistant coach. The Longhorns do, however, remain eligible for postseason play.

2. Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets began last season at No. 19, a young team with 17 new faces but enough talent to make a run for the title.

That's exactly what they did. Seven freshmen started at times for Georgia Tech last season and 15 played, carrying the Yellow Jackets to Omaha.

Georgia Tech will make its third trip to the CWS if the team plays to its potential. Led by 6-foot-9 left-hander Kyle Bakker (13-2, 3.14), the Yellow Jackets return all 52 wins and 590 of 606 innings pitched.

Senior Chris Goodman (8-2, 4.41) and 10-game winner Brian Burks will also start, while Jeff Watchko (11-1, 4.01) is the top reliever.

Tech's outfielders return, with Matt Murton (20 steals), Jeremy Slayden and switch-hitter Brandon Boggs. The trio combined to hit .335 with 28 home runs and 159 RBI.

The infield is new, except for standout sophomore Eric Patterson (.346, 41 steals).

One of the most shocking moments of last season occurred when Notre Dame knocked off the top-ranked Seminoles in a super regional.

3. Florida State

Florida State, at 60-14, still finished with more victories than any other Division I program in 2002.

Five position players and four starting pitchers return, most notably All-America catcher Tony Richie (.353, 13 homers, 75 RBI) and sophomore Stephen Drew (.402, 16 homers, 54 RBI). Left fielder Tony McQuade, first baseman Jerrod Brown and second baseman Bryan Zech are also back.

The outstanding pitching staff returns almost intact, featuring starters Matt Lynch (13-2, 3.59) and Marc LaMacchia (11-2, 3.38), and closer Daniel Hodges (4-1, 2.56, 12 saves).

4. Rice

The Owls put on one of the most memorable playoff performances in recent memory with twin shutouts of LSU in a super regional.

But the momentum ended in Omaha, where they were eliminated in two games.

The quick exit should motivate this year's team, especially the seven returning pitchers from a staff that led Division I with a 2.79 ERA.

Rice's one-two punch of Phillip Humber and Steven Herce could be the nation's best. Herce (13-3, 2.79) was clutch in the postseason, while Humber (11-1, 2.77, 130 strikeouts) shared national freshman of the year honors with teammate Vincent Sinisi (.428, 11 homers, 80 RBI). Enrique Cruz (16 homers) also returns.

5. Stanford

The Cardinal, last year's preseason No. 1, made a fourth consecutive trip to Omaha in 2002. They also came up short for the fourth consecutive year.

With standouts Tim Cunningham (10-3, 4.26), Sam Fuld (.375, eight homers, 47 RBI), Ryan Garko (.314, 14 homers, 55 RBI) and Carlos Quentin (.303, 12 homers, 54 RBI) among six returning position players and two starting pitchers, Stanford's 2003 squad will be a healthy combination of old and new.

Cunningham and junior right-hander John Hudgins (10-1, 4.71) return, with top reliever Ryan McCally (4-3, 3.53, 7 saves) and freshman Mark Romanczuk, a fifth-round pick last June, also in the mix.

First baseman John Mayberry Jr., son of the former major leaguer, was the 28th overall pick in last year's draft and is the highest drafted player so far to forgo the pros.

6. Southern California

Coach Mike Gillespie begins his 17th season with high hopes for a healthy season after injuries plagued his pitchers in 2002.

Senior Anthony Reyes (4-2, 3.44) anchors a rotation that includes juniors Fraser Dizard (1.50 ERA in only six innings) and Brian Bannister, red-shirted last season because of injury. Brian's brother, sophomore Brett Bannister (8-3, 3.56), could also make the rotation.

Offensively, the Trojans lost 38 of the club's 71 home runs in 2002. But all power is not lost — sophomore Joey Metropoulos (.352, 13 homers, 65 RBI) returns, moving from designated hitter to first base. Senior Anthony Lunetta (.271, 24 RBI) and junior Michael Moon (.336, eight homers, 60 RBI, 12 steals) also return.

7. Louisiana State

The Tigers have a veteran pitching staff featuring three key returners — fifth-year senior righty Bo Pettit (3.35, 121 strikeouts), converted senior closer Jake Tompkins (2.68) and junior Brian Wilson. The trio combined for 26 wins, six saves and 302 innings.

LSU hopes injured pitcher Lane Mestepey also returns from injury. Mestepey, the Southeastern Conference leader in ERA (2.59) and complete games (eight) had offseason shoulder surgery and may take a medical redshirt.

On offense, several freshmen who played last season will be given bigger roles, among them infielders Blake Gill (.292, 26 RBI) and J.C. Holt (.349, 23 RBI) while the Tigers' top position player is junior Aaron Hill (.329, nine homers, 47 RBI), a likely high pick in the draft.

This season, the Tigers will have a "31 WALLY" logo on their caps, in tribute to Wally Pontiff, their teammate who died last July of an undiagnosed heart abnormality.

8. South Carolina

The Gamecocks won a school-record 57 games and played for the national championship last season.

In order for South Carolina to have an encore performance, the Gamecocks will have to reload. Their top three hitters — Yaron Peters (Southeastern Conference-high 29 homers), Drew Meyer (.359, 23 doubles) and Steve Thomas (.355, 26 homers) have left, and so has Blake Taylor, the nation's leading closer with 21 saves.

Among returning players, the standout is junior Landon Powell, the nation's top catcher. He spent the summer with Team USA after hitting .292 with 12 home runs and 53 RBI last season.

Pitching is less of a question mark than the offense, thanks to a veteran left-handed rotation of Steven Bondurant (7-4, 4.30), David Marchbanks (9-4, 4.98) and Matt Campbell (4-2, team-best 2.43 ERA). Sophomore right-hander Aaron Rawl (7-2, 3.89) is expected to both start and relieve.

9. Arizona State

With 10 top position players returning and six top pitchers back from a team that finished third in the Pac-10, there's plenty of buzz about the 2003 Sun Devils.

Arizona State fans will enjoy the fireworks provided by catcher/DH Jeremy West, the Sun Devils' returning home run leader with 13. He also led the Pac-10 with 71 RBI.

Junior outfielder Rodney Allen (.278, six homers, 50 RBI) adds some pop to the middle of the lineup. The Sun Devils also have sophomore shortstop Dustin Pedroia, who led the team with 82 hits as a freshman.

It will be interesting to watch how Arizona State's pitching staff shapes up behind junior right-hander Ryan Schroyer (4-1, 2.37, eight saves).

With two potential first-round picks on the mound and another patrolling the outfield, plus one of the most talented group of newcomers in Division I, the Titans believe they have the players to make a run in 2003.

10. Cal State Fullerton

Fullerton's strength will be its deep pitching staff, highlighted by relief ace Chad Cordero (26 career saves, best in the nation among active pitchers) and starting right-hander Wes Littleton (9-4, 2.40). The pair played together on Team USA last summer.

So did outfielder Shane Costa (.365, 23 doubles, 40 RBI, 14 steals). He led the Titans in almost every offensive category last season and will anchor a lineup that features six returning position players.

11. Houston

Junior Brad Sullivan had a spectacular season in 2002, going 13-1 with a school-record 157 strikeouts and a 1.82 ERA.

His amazing year helped the Cougars win 48 games, tying a school record, and advance to their second super regional appearance in three seasons.

Sullivan, a projected first-round draft pick in 2003, anchors a pitching staff that finished fifth in team ERA (3.20) last season. Junior lefty Danny Zell (8-2) and sophomore Ryan Wagner (2-1, 2.86) also return.

Two players were drafted in the second round after last season — catcher Chris Snyder and shortstop/closer Jesse Crain. Senior third baseman Brett Cooley (.339, 18 homers) surprised the team in the fall with his pitching. He's expected to win the closer's job.

12. Wake Forest

The Demon Deacons are one of the deepest, most experienced teams in the country, with an impressive combination of pitching, speed and power.

Seven seniors and nine juniors are on board. So are nine returning starters from last season's team that finished 47-13-1 and 17-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Wake Forest's best player is junior right-hander Kyle Sleeth (14-0, 2.97, 113 strikeouts), who coach George Greer calls "one of the best I've ever seen."

Wake Forest's offensive weapons start with junior third baseman Jamie D'Antona, who led the Demon Deacons with 20 home runs and 83 RBI. Outfielder Ryan Johnson (.366, 13 homers, 77 RBI) is another power hitter.

13. Baylor

The Bears hold the best record in the Big 12 over the past five seasons, but the victories haven't added up to postseason success.

Baylor tries again for its first trip to Omaha since 1978 with six returning position starters and two veteran starting pitchers. Offensive standouts include senior first baseman/outfielder Chris Durbin (.357, six homers, 41 RBI) and senior DH Ross Bennett (.357, six homers, 41 RBI).

Starting pitchers Steven White (5-4, 4.95) and Jared Theodorakos (105 strikeouts) also return, as does Zane Carlson, Baylor's career leader with 27 saves in just over two seasons. Carlson pitched briefly in 2002 but received a medical redshirt after having surgery on his throwing arm.

14. Notre Dame

Depth carried the Fighting Irish all the way to Omaha last June despite a rash of early-season injuries that could have decimated a less experienced team.

Coach Paul Mainieri hoped to start this season at full strength, but no such luck. Sophomore right-hander Grant Johnson, (9-5, 3.46), who earned national notice for pitching a one-hitter in a 25-1 NCAA regional victory against South Alabama, had season-ending surgery in December.

The Irish return 11 other pitchers from last year's team that won 50 games, including senior right-hander J.P. Gagne.

Notre Dame will have a new look on offense with four of the top five hitters lost from last season. The top returning hitter is second baseman Steve Sollman (.362, 47 RBI). Senior right fielder Kris Billmaier (.313, 41 RBI) is also back.

One new player who stands out — literally — is 7-foot-1 freshman right-hander Ryan Doherty.

15. Clemson

With the departure of 2002 Player of the Year Khalil Greene and many other key players, the Tigers have holes to fill if they want to return to the CWS.

Clemson's biggest void is at shortstop, where a group of untested players including sophomore Garrick Evans and freshman Herman Demmink are competing to replace the hole left by Greene, the 13th overall pick last June who batted .470 with 27 homers and 91 RBI.

Last year's team hit a school-record 112 home runs, with three players totaling 20 or more: Greene, Jeff Baker (25) and Michael Johnson (25). Of the three, only Johnson (.384, 81 RBI) returns, and his decision to play a fifth year came as a surprise after he was drafted by the Padres in the second round last June. Johnson dislocated his ankle in the fall but is expected back in time for the season opener.

Other veteran players returning include outfielders Kyle Frank (.324), Zane Green (six home runs in the 2002 postseason), and second baseman David Slevin (.284, 22 RBI).

16. Long Beach State

The 49ers have talent, starting with pitchers Abe Alvarez and Jered Weaver. Alvarez, a junior left-hander, is the reigning Big West pitcher of the year after going 12-3 with a 2.72 ERA. The control pitcher spent 2002 with Team USA and did not give up an earned run after his first appearance.

Weaver, a sophomore right-hander, went 8-4 with a 4.37 ERA as a freshman.

Other top pitchers returning from a staff that ranked 11th in Division I in team ERA (3.54) include senior right-hander Matt Paz, who was 8-8 with a 4.49 ERA in 2001 before having Tommy John surgery, sophomore reliever Neil Jamison (1-1, 2.70) and senior reliever Carlos Muniz (3-1, 1.52).

17. Mississippi State

It was a disappointing year for the Bulldogs, even though legendary coach Ron Polk returned to Starkville after a four-year absence.

The team finished 34-24-1 and failed to make the NCAA postseason for the first time in seven years. But with five starting position players and nine pitchers returning, Mississippi State should improve over last season.

Junior first baseman Matthew Brinson is back after leading the team in home runs (14) and RBI (71). Outfielder Jon Mungle added eight home runs and 36 RBI as a freshman. Junior outfielder Steve Gendron led the team with 84 hits and a .351 batting average.

Pitching should be a strength as team co-captain Paul Maholm (10-3, 3.43, six complete games) leads a staff that includes Joey Collums (3-6, 4.48) and Jacob Blakeney (2-2, 5.59, five starts). Closer Jonathan Papelbon (3-4, 2.92, five saves) also returns.

18. Richmond

Yes, Richmond. The upstart Spiders won a school-record 53 games last season, produced two All-Americans and advanced to a super regional.

Richmond's most notable player is junior Tim Stauffer (15-3, 1.54). He finished second in the nation in wins, sixth in ERA and threw 13 complete games with 140 strikeouts.

Right-hander Mike McGirr also returns after going 12-1 with a 4.06 ERA in 17 starts, including four complete games.

Richmond returns weapons on offense, too. All-America third baseman David Reaver led the team in batting average (.391), hits (104), doubles (30), and triples (5), and broke Sean Casey's school-record with a 34-game hit streak. Senior first baseman Vito Chiaravalloti is back after leading the Spiders last season with 23 home runs and a school-record 86 RBI.

19. Nebraska

A new era begins in Lincoln, as Mike Anderson takes over for Dave Van Horn, who resigned to become coach at Arkansas.

Anderson isn't a newcomer to Nebraska — he has served as the team's hitting and outfield coach for the past eight seasons.

Six starting position players and 10 of 14 pitchers return. Left-hander Aaron Marsden is the Cornhuskers' top pitcher after going 8-1 with a 2.70 ERA. Another mound veteran is senior Jamie Rodrigue, a three-year starter.

They'll be throwing to veteran John Grose (.384, 38 RBI), a junior who split time with All-American Jed Morris. Nebraska's outfield, featuring All-American Jeff Leise (.371, 12 homers, 51 RBI, 25 steals), returns intact.

20. Miami (Fla.)

After struggling for much of last year, the Hurricanes became one of the biggest surprises of the postseason by advancing to a super regional. If not for South Carolina's five-run ninth-inning rally in Game 3, Miami would have advanced to its eighth CWS since Jim Morris took over the program in 1994.

Pitching was problematic last season, as the Hurricanes' staff combined for a 5.23 ERA. Just one starting pitcher — junior left-hander Dan Touchet (6-2, 4.41) returns. Sophomore Brandon Camardese, junior Vince Bongiovanni (1-4, 6.23), junior Ryan Dixon (0-0, 3.86) and senior J.D. Cockroft (5-0, team-low 2.22 ERA) are challenging for the other starting roles.

Reliever George Huguet also returns after notching eight saves last season and 14 in 2000.

Miami will also have mostly new faces in the field, with just four starters returning. The most notable newcomer will be true freshman Gabby Sanchez at third. Sanchez was a third round pick in 2002 and is the highest drafted player on the roster.

Senior Jim Burt moves from the outfield to first base and is the top returning hitter after batting .322 with nine homers and 48 RBI.

The Hurricanes will learn soon if they will incur any sanctions in relation to an 18-month NCAA investigation focusing on recruiting violations, specifically related to a youth baseball camp a Miami assistant once operated.

21. Auburn

The Tigers could be the surprise team of the Southeastern Conference this season.

Auburn's pitching staff might be the deepest in the conference. Eric Brandon (3-3, 5.27) tossed a perfect game, Colby Paxton (8-6, 5.25) had a one-hitter, and an NCAA-record nine pitchers combined for a no-hitter.

Brandon, Paxton, senior starting pitcher Levale Speigner (7-6, 4.92) and the bulk of the 2002 staff return.

The offense features Bobby Huddleston (.355, 11 homers, 50 RBI), who led the Tigers with a .621 slugging percentage and a .428 on-base percentage. Another player to watch is junior outfielder Javon Moran, who led Auburn in average (.365), hits (97) and runs (59) last season.

22. South Alabama

A year ago, South Alabama finished with 42 victories and was the top-seeded team at the South Bend, Ind., regional. The team was strong offensively (.317 batting average) and defensively (.971 average).

Ryan Mulhern, who is closing in on the Jaguars' all-time home run record, returns after leading the team with 17 homers and 64 RBI. Also returning is batting average leader Jansen Rayborn (.362) second baseman Josh Touchstone, (.338, 11 homers, 40 RBI), third baseman Kevin Sytko (.324, 24 RBI), shortstop Brett Parker (.304, six homers, 33 RBI), designated hitter Jason Gross (.329, five homers, 30 RBI) and center fielder T.J. Touchstone (.316, 35 RBI).

The pitching staff is anchored by Clark Girardeau (8-6, 5.71). The 6-5 right-hander has a great slider and his velocity is in the low 90s. Senior Tony Neal has recovered from Tommy John surgery.

23. Stetson

The power-hitting Hatters won 42 games last season and return most of their roster.

Among the eight returning position players four hit 11 or more home runs, starting with Atlantic Sun Player of the Year Chris Westervelt (.403, 18 homers, 46 RBI).

Other big bats include infielder Brian Snyder (.379, 14 homers, 54 RBI), infielder/relief pitcher Andy Wilson (.369, 11 homers, 59 RBI) and first baseman Bryan Zenchyk (.383, 11 homers, 63 RBI).

Senior left-handers Roger Lincoln (12-3, 3.99, 95 strikeouts) and Mike Wiley (10-2, 4.48) pack a nasty one-two punch in the rotation.

24. North Carolina

The Tar Heels are coming off a 43-win season and 17-7 finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference, their best conference mark in 12 years.

The team strength will be pitching, as starters Daniel Moore (6-2, 6.53) and Scott Manshack (7-0, 3.70) return. Whitley Benson (2-1, 3.99) and Michael Gross (6-4, 4.13) are top relievers who will also push for a role in the rotation.

Senior outfielder Sean Farrell is North Carolina's best hitter, batting .354 with 14 home runs and 73 RBI in 2002. Senior catcher Ryan Blake added seven home runs.

25. Florida Atlantic

The most successful season in school history ended last season with the Owls winning their first regional championship.

Florida Atlantic, which also had a 27-game win streak in 2002, has the talent to continue its upward trend, starting with three returning starting pitchers and six position players.

Danny Core (8-6, 3.72), Chris Pillsbury (10-3, 4.60) and Travis NeSmith (7-2, 4.98) will anchor the rotation.

The offense will be led by senior infielder Mike Cox, who finished with a conference-high 18 home runs and team-high 65 RBI.

Stanford No. 1 in 2002 Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Poll

The Cardinal, which has now finished second at the College World Series the last two years and third in the nation in 1999, has appeared in the CWS four of the last five years. If Stanford makes another appearance this season, it will be the first time in school history that the Cardinal has qualified for the College World Series four consecutive years.

What makes this Stanford team so appealing to many coaches is their defense. No Cardinal baseball team in 108 years of baseball at the school has ever had a better year defensively than last season. Stanford posted a .977 fielding percentage, best in school history and tops in the nation. Only 60 errors were committed in 68 games with spectacular play after spectacular play taking place. Even more telling was that Stanford was errorless in 33 of its 68 games. When the pressure was really on, the Cardinal was errorless in seven of 12 post-season games.

When you factor in another outstanding pitching staff led by Louisville Slugger pre-season All-American RHP Jeremy Guthrie (13-4, 2.82 ERA) and All-American closer J.D. Willcox (6 SV, 5-0, 2.06 ERA), optimism runs extremely high.

Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's NCAA Div. I Pre-Season Poll 
 
                         2001              2001
                        Record             Rank 

 1.*Stanford            (51-17)      497     2 
 2. Florida St.         (47-19)      495     9 
 3. Tulane              (56-13)      491     6 
 4. USC                 (45-19)      489     5 
 5. LSU                 (44-22-1)    486    10 
 6.*Clemson             (41-22)      484    13 
 7. Miami, Fla.         (53-12)      480     1 
 8.*S. Carolina         (49-20)      477    15 
 9. Wichita St.         (42-24)      475    NR 
10. Oklahoma St.        (42-22)      472    NR 
11. Fresno St.          (41-25)      468    NR 
12.*Rice                (47-20)      466    16 
13.*Nebraska            (50-16)      462     7 
14. Mississippi         (39-23-1)    459    NR 
15.*Texas               (36-26)      458    28 
16. Wake Forest         (44-18)      456    18 
17. Fullerton St.       (48-18)      453     3 
18. Baylor              (37-24)      451    22 
19.*Notre Dame          (49-13-1)    447    12 
20. Arizona St.         (37-20-1)    445    23 
21. Florida             (35-27)      442    NR 
22.*Georgia Tech        (41-20)      441    27 
23. Mississippi St.     (39-24)      437    14 
24. Ohio St.            (43-18)      433    NR 
25. Rutgers             (42-17)      430    25 
26. Texas Tech          (43-20-1)    425    21 
27. Purdue              (32-24)      423    NR 
28. Ball St.            (34-23)      420    NR 
29. E. Carolina         (47-13)      416    11 
30. Texas A&M           (33-27)      413    NR 
31. Oral Roberts        (48-13)      409    NR 
32. Ga. Southern        (42-20)      407    NR 
33. Northridge St.      (34-22)      403    NR 
34. La.-Lafayette       (28-28)      399    NR 
35. Nevada-Reno         (30-26)      395    NR 
36. Winthrop            (48-16)      394    29 
37. Long Beach St.      (35-23)      390    NR 
38. California          (34-25)      387    NR 
39. Stetson             (43-17)      383    NR 
40. C. Florida          (51-14)      382    17 

Baseball America's 2002 Preseason College Top 25

Coach Mark Marquess, entering his 26th season with the Cardinal, has six preseason All-Americans on his squad, including three first-teamers in outfielders Jason Cooper and Carlos Quentin and righthander Jeremy Guthrie. The Cardinal's trademark pitching depth includes top returnees such as lefthander Tim Cunningham and righthander J.D. Willcox, and second baseman Chris O'Riordan returns to his senior season after leading the Cardinal in home runs, RBIs and stolen bases in 2001.

Clemson, keyed by the return for their senior seasons of righthander Steve Reba and infielder Khalil Greene, opens the season ranked second, while defending CWS champion Miami ranks third. Southern California and Notre Dame round out the preseason top five, with the Fighting Irish earning their highest preseason rank ever.

The staff of Baseball America determines the Top 25 rankings. Records indicated are 2001 final records.

                     2001     2001
                    Record    Rank
 
 1.*Stanford         51-17      2 
 2.*Clemson          41-22     17 
 3. Miami            53-12      1 
 4. USC              45-19      4 
 5.*Notre Dame       49-13-1   15 
 6. Florida St.      47-19     10 
 7. LSU              44-22-1    9 
 8.*Nebraska         50-16      6 
 9.*Texas            36-26     NR 
10. Tulane           56-13      5 
11.*Rice             47-20     13 
12. Wichita St.      42-24     NR 
13.*Georgia Tech     41-20     NR 
14.*S. Carolina      49-20     12 
15. Fullerton St.    48-18      3 
16. Baylor           37-24     NR 
17. Mississippi St.  39-24     19 
18. Arizona St.      37-20-1   22 
19. N. Carolina      31-26     NR 
20. Mississippi      39-23-1   NR 
21. Wake Forest      44-18     18 
22. Northridge St.   34-22     NR 
23. Oklahoma St.     42-22     NR 
24. Washington       29-23     NR 
25. Rutgers          42-17     25 

Baseball Weekly/ESPN 2002 Preseason Top 25 Coaches' Poll

                      2001           2001
                     Record          Rank
 
 1.*Stanford        (51-17)    1001    2
 2. Miami           (53-12)     925    1
 3. USC             (45-19)     885    4
 4. Florida St.     (47-19)     856   10
 5.*Clemson         (41-22)     834   14
 6. LSU             (44-22-1)   809    9
 7. Tulane          (56-13)     794    6
 8.*Nebraska        (50-16)     671    7
 9.*S. Carolina     (49-20)     617   13
10. Fullerton St.   (48-18)     543    3
11.*Rice            (47-20)     531   12
12.*Texas           (36-26)     481   NR
13.*Notre Dame      (49-13-1)   465   15
14. Oklahoma St.    (42-22)     388   NR
15. Wichita St.     (42-24)     363   NR
16. Baylor          (37-24)     359   25
17. Arizona St.     (37-20-1)   342   22
18. Mississippi     (39-23-1)   330   NR
19.*Georgia Tech    (41-20)     323   21
20. Mississippi St. (39-24)     271   17
21. Wake Forest     (44-18)     261   19
22. Fresno St.      (41-25)     258   NR
23. Florida         (35-27)     139   NR
24. Rutgers         (42-17)     121   NR
25. Tennessee       (48-20)     105    5

Others receiving votes:  N. Carolina (77), Texas Tech (59), E. Carolina (54),
Northridge St. (43), Ohio St. (42), Georgia (38), Texas A&M (31), Alabama (28),
Nevada (27), UCLA (24), Ball St. (20), Stetson (19), Washington (18), 
California (18), Arizona (18), Long Beach St. (17), Winthrop (15), Houston (14),
Purdue (11), C. Florida (11), Oral Roberts (8), Pepperdine (7), San Diego (6),
Virginia Tech (6), S. Alabama (5), BYU (4), Georgia Southern (4), San Diego St. (4),
Florida International (3), S. Florida (3), Campbell (3), New Orleans (1), 
SW Missouri St. (1), Illinois (1), Oklahoma (1), Coastal Carolina (1), 
La.-Lafayette (1)

Stanford tops 2002 college preview

By Dana Heiss Grodin, USA TODAY Baseball Weekly

By Paul Sakuma, AP Last season, Stanford coach Mark Marquess, center, became the 23rd skipper to win 1,000 career games.

1. Stanford Cardinal

Expectations for Omaha are infinitely greater this season than last, when an unheralded, untested Cardinal won 51 games and advanced to their second consecutive College World Series championship game.

How fortunate then for Stanford that 16 of 20 letterwinners return, including No. 1 pitcher Jeremy Guthrie as well as all those position players. Add in a recruiting class considered to be one of the nation's best, and it's clear why the coaches selected the Cardinal as the preseason No. 1.

"We should be better than last year," a cautious head coach Mark Marquess said, "but you never know until you get into it. The key to our success will be pitching and defense."

A year ago, Stanford didn't have one senior on its roster. Now, there are six, and the senior class will try to become the first at Stanford to reach the CWS four consecutive years. Senior second baseman Chris O'Riordan, a former walk-on, returns after leading the Cardinal in nearly every offensive category last season, including hits (101), home runs (12), RBI (68) and stolen bases (16).

Stanford also will need the continued offensive production of sophomore outfielders Sam Fuld (.357, 37 RBI) and Carlos Quentin (.345, 11 HR, 52 RBI), as well as junior Jason Cooper (9 HR), a second-round pick out of high school.

The Cardinal will feature as many as four freshmen in the starting lineup — catcher Donny Lucy, outfielder Danny Putman and first basemen/outfielders Chris Carter and Billy Paganetti.

"Lucy is a great defensive catcher and one of the fastest guys on the team," Marquess said. "The freshmen are talented enough where they will push the other guys on the team."

Although Stanford's staff didn't remain as intact as the offense, two potential No. 1 draft picks in the June 2002 draft take the hill in Guthrie (13-4, 2.82 ERA, 128 strikeouts) and junior left-hander Tim Cunningham (6-0, 3.62). Right-hander Ryan McCally (2-1, 2.62, 26 appearances) will compete for the weekend rotation with sophomore right-handers John Hudgins and Drew Ehrlich and 6-7 freshman Mark Jecmen. Senior J.D. Willcox (5-0, 2.06, 6 saves) returns at closer.

2. Miami Hurricanes

Power-hitting teams ruled the college baseball landscape until 1999, when the Hurricanes demonstrated that national championships could be won with solid pitching, defense and manufactured runs.

Two titles over three seasons proved that the "small-ball" philosophy championed by coach Jim Morris would work, but only with the right combination of speed and defense.

After 12 Hurricanes turned pro following Miami's 12-1 victory against Stanford in the 2001 CWS final, Morris was left with only three returning starters in the field and just one starting pitcher.

Though few in number, Miami's returning players are noteworthy. Senior Javy Rodriguez, a shortstop prospect who went undrafted last June, drove in 60 runs and stole a nation-best 66 bases. He will anchor the offense and provide leadership with junior third baseman Kevin Howard (.336, 20 doubles) and catcher Danny Matienzo, who hit 13 home runs last season and drove in 64 as Miami's designated hitter. Right fielder Kevin Mannix (.328, 38 RBI) also returns.

Even with Rodriguez returning, the Hurricanes will have decidedly less speed than last season, when Mike Rodriguez (no relation), Marcus Nettles and Charlton Jimerson combined for 128 stolen bases. There also will be less power to go around with the departure of Jimerson (10 HR) and Kevin Brown (15 HR). That's why Miami is counting on big contributions from freshmen Danny and Paco Figueroa, who are identical twins.

Paco Figueroa will compete with true freshman Joey Hooft for a starting role at second, while Danny Figueroa has won the center field job. Sophomore Jim Burt will start on Opening Day in left.

The rotation will be anchored by junior right-hander Kiki Bengochea, who went 9-4 with a team-high 89 strikeouts last season. The No. 2 starter will be redshirt junior Troy Roberson, who has missed most of the last two seasons with injuries. Former Miami reserve quarterback T.J. Prunty will compete with sophomore Dan Touchet; freshman left-hander Brandon Camardese, a seventh-round pick of the White Sox; and freshman Ryan Dixon for the third spot in the rotation.

As is its trademark, Miami will have another deep bullpen featuring setup man Luke DeBold and sophomore closer George Huguet.

3. Southern California Trojans

The Trojans advanced to the College World Series for the second season in a row last June by riding the right arm of Golden Spikes winner Mark Prior. His 15 victories represented one-third of the Trojans' season total, while his mind-boggling blend of power pitching and control resulted in 202 strikeouts and just 18 walks in 138 2/3 innings.

Although Southern California returns eight pitchers, the departure of Prior and 12-game winner Rik Currier creates a gaping hole for the Trojans to fill. Offensively, the defending Pac-10 champions will miss team captain and shortstop stalwart Seth Davidson, the program's career record holder in hits and steals.

"The players we are losing made a dramatic impact on our program," head coach Mike Gillespie said.

The Trojans' next ace will be right-hander Anthony Reyes, a junior with a great arm and outstanding pro potential. Reyes (5-4, 3.72 ERA, 97 strikeouts) has spent the past two seasons as the No. 3 starter behind Prior and Currier, and also spent two seasons touring with the U.S. national team. He will anchor a rotation that could include juniors Jordan Olson (2-1, 5.06) and Chad Clark (4-2, 6.39) and sophomore Fraser Dizard (3-3, 5.44) who led the team with seven saves but could get playing time in either role in 2002.

It's possible that the next Prior and Currier might be found in freshmen left-handers J.P. Howell (Atlanta) and Matt Chico (Boston) — both were second-round draft choices out of high school. Or, perhaps the next star will be right-hander Clayton Wentworth, a sophomore transfer from St. Mary's (Texas) who went 9-0 with a 1.43 ERA.

The offense will have plenty of new faces too. Scouts will keep a close eye on junior second baseman Anthony Lunetta (.305, 5 HR) and former second-round pick catcher Alberto Concepcion (.321, 7 HR, 41 RBI), as both are expected to be high picks in June. Lunetta was affected last season by an elbow injury and should put up better numbers.

Freshman infielder Joey Metropoulos is a right-handed power hitter who will contribute immediately, as will senior outfielder Brian Barre (team-high 13 home runs, 48 RBI, .345 average, 20 steals), first baseman Bill Peavey (.307, 7 HR, 48 RBI), third baseman Michael Moon (.313-6-35) and senior transfer Kris Cox, a left-handed-hitting outfielder who transferred from Ole Miss.

4. Florida State Seminoles

Although the Seminoles had their share of accomplishments in 2001, from claiming the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title to winning 47 games overall, the season was quickly forgotten once the team failed to advance to the CWS for the first time in four years.

But Florida State is well-stocked with seven returning position starters. The Seminoles return all five starting pitchers from a staff that ranked ninth nationally with a 3.47 ERA. The staff, led by senior right-hander Blair Varnes (9-1, 3.61 ERA) and Matt Lynch (9-2, 3.61), also includes potential third-starter Robby Read (7-5, 4.08), plus Trent Peterson (5-1, 3.16) and Marc LaMacchia (5-2, 4.72).

Offensively, the Seminoles will miss outfielder John-Ford Griffin, who led the team with a .450 batting average, 30 doubles, 19 home runs and 75 RBI. The Seminoles still have hard-hitting senior first baseman Ryan Barthelemy (.343, 14 HR, 72 RBI) who had an All-Star summer in the Cape Cod League. Sophomore infielder Bryan Zech returns at second, while Stephen Drew, younger brother of major leaguers JD and Tim Drew, takes over for four-year starter Brett Groves at short. Other key players will be catcher Tony Richie, a freshman All-American last season, and outfielders Tony McQuade, who will replace Griffin in left, and seniors Nick Rogers (.351, 6 HR) in center and Mike Futrell (.345, 8 HR, 56 RBI) in right.

5. Clemson Tigers

The Tigers are stocked with enough power hitters and experienced pitchers to challenge Florida State for the Atlantic Coast Conference title.

All-American junior third baseman Jeff Baker, the nation's top returning home run hitter, will be the big bat in an offense featuring seven returning position starters. Baker (.369, 23 HR, 75 RBI) led the ACC in home runs — one shy of the school record. He isn't the only offensive weapon. Junior first baseman Michael Johnson (18 HR, 54 RBI), senior shortstop Khalil Greene (12 HR, 52 RBI, school-record .965 fielding percentage) and two-way player Jarrod Schmidt (16 HR, 51 RBI) combine to give Clemson one of the nation's top offenses.

The versatile Schmidt finished second on the team in wins (7) and strikeouts (59) as a member of Clemson's three-man rotation. A first baseman/designated hitter last season, he is slated to play in right field and will move into the closer role.

Senior right-hander Steve Reba returns as Clemson's ace after going 12-3 with an ACC-low 2.58 ERA last season. Reba limited opponents to a .212 batting average against him and allowed just four home runs in 18 appearances. He struck out 103 and walked 31. Rounding out the rotation will be No. 2 starter Matt Henrie (6-3, 3.06 ERA, 54 strikeouts) and No. 3 starter Steven Jackson (2-1, 5.35).

6. Louisiana State Tigers

A new era begins in Baton Rouge as former Louisiana-Monroe head coach Smoke Laval takes the reins from the legendary coach Skip Bertman.

Laval spent the 2001 season as Bertman's administrative assistant. The position enabled him to establish a rapport with players and assistant coaches Turtle Thomas and Dan Canevari.

Players immediately took a liking to Laval's hands-on approach. He did everything from throwing batting practice to getting down and dirty demonstrating infield drills.

Five returning starters — junior third baseman Wally Pontiff (.347, 7 HR, 58 RBI), shortstop Aaron Hill (.299-5-36) and senior outfielders David Raymer (.324-4-30), Matt Heath (.293-10-47) and Sean Barker (.338) — will lead the charge.

Seven pitchers also return, including sophomore left-hander Lane Mestepey (11-3, 3.75 ERA) and junior right-hander Bo Pettit (4-0, 2.42), who is healthy after being plagued by a shoulder injury for the past two seasons. Right-hander Jake Tompkins, a transfer from Sacramento City College, is the front-runner to assume the No. 3 role in the rotation.

As many as four true freshmen are likely to get playing time, including infielder J.C. Holt, outfielder Dustin Hahn (son of former Mets player Don Hahn), outfielder Jay Mattox (fourth-round pick, White Sox), and catcher Jon Zeringue (third round, White Sox). Also expected to contribute will be catcher Dustin Weaver, a transfer from South-eastern Louisiana, and left-handed pitcher Jason Determan.

7. Tulane Green Wave

The Green Wave were one of the country's most exciting teams last season, an offensive juggernaut that notched an NCAA-best 56 victories en route to the school's first College World Series berth.

Coach Rick Jones has another outstanding team, albeit with less firepower, as All-Americans Jake Gautreau (21 HR, 96 RBI) and Andy Cannizaro (34 doubles) have moved on to the pro ranks. One key ingredient, sophomore Michael Aubrey, remains.

The two-way threat once again will start in left field when he isn't starting on the mound. Aubrey was the Freshman of the Year last season, batting .361 with 13 home runs and 69 RBI, while going 3-1 with a 5.15 ERA, 46 strikeouts and one save.

"Michael Aubrey is the most complete, multitalented player I've ever coached," Jones said. "In addition to being an outstanding pitcher, he's a hitter who can hit for power and for average, he's a solid outfielder and is, in my opinion, the premier defensive first baseman in the country."

As of now, first base still belongs to senior James Jurries (.324, 10 HR, 53 RBI), who will anchor the offense, along with center fielder Jon Kaplan (.358-5-54) and shortstop Anthony Giarratano (.352-3-47).

Tulane returns seven of its top eight pitchers and will go with an all-lefty rotation, anchored by Nick Bourgeois at No. 1, Aubrey and senior Beau Richardson.

	By Dave Weaver, AP
	Everybody wanted to touch the Cornhuskers in 2001 as they made their first College World Series appearance.

8. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Head coach Dave Van Horne has plenty of depth with battles still being waged at several positions. That's good news for the Husker faithful, after Nebraska's two-and-out performance at the CWS.

Van Horne could shift the emphasis from power and speed to pitching and defense after losing power-hitting Dan Johnson (25 HR) and basestealers Adam Stern and John Cole to pro ball.

Eleven pitchers return, led by All-American senior Shane Komine, the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year who went 14-2 with a 3.35 ERA over a school-record 131 1/3 innings. Komine, who led the conference in victories, strikeouts (157) and complete games (7) last season, had shoulder surgery in September. However, he's set to return by the season opener.

Left-hander Justin Pekarek also missed fall practice after he had elbow surgery in July, but he too is expected back.

First baseman Matt Hopper is the Huskers' top returning hitter, followed by center fielder Jeff Leise (.380, 7 HR, 48 RBI), catcher Jed Morris (.341-7-48) and third baseman Jeff Blevins (.313-2-44). Second baseman Will Bolt and true freshman shortstop Joe Simokaitis will key the defense.

9. South Carolina Gamecocks

The Gamecocks, winners of 105 games over the past two seasons, will rely on their veteran pitchers after losing their top four home run hitters from last season.

But their biggest task will be replacing Kip Bouknight, the school's all-time leader in victories, strikeouts and innings pitched, and reliever Lee Gronkiewicz, who tallied a nation's best 19 saves last season. South Carolina still returns five pitchers who combined for 30 wins last season. They include a pair of senior starters: left-hander Gary Bell (10-5, 3.46 ERA, one shutout) and right-hander Chris Spigner (7-4, 4.08). Sophomore left-hander David Marchbanks (7-1, 3.63) is slated to move into the starting rotation, joining Blake Taylor (5-4, 3.30) and junior Tony Adler (1-0, 3.24).

The Gamecocks return only two starting position players — senior outfielder Garris Gonce (.338, 9 HR, 35 RBI) and Drew Meyer, a shortstop who returns after hitting .303 with seven home runs and 37 RBI to go with a team-high 20 steals as a sophomore. Landon Powell, who backed up power-hitting catcher Tim Whittaker last season, takes over behind the plate. Other notable players will be lefty first baseman Trey Dyson, who had a disappointing junior season after hitting 11 home runs as a sophomore, and senior DH Yaron Peters.

10. Cal State Fullerton Titans

In 2001, we wondered how the Titans would perform with two freshmen — Darric Merrell at starter, and Chad Cordero at closer — in major roles. Merrell went 8-4 with a 2.95 ERA and Cordero finished with a 1.83 ERA and 14 saves. Their performances earned the pair Freshman All-America nods and helped the Titans reach Omaha for an 11th time.

Merrell takes over for Kirk Saarloos at No. 1. Reliable pitcher Jon Smith also graduated, making room in the rotation for sophomore Wes Littleton and 6-4 freshman right-hander Dustin Miller.

The Titans return only one infielder, Jason Corapci, who will take over at second base, and senior center fielder Chris Stringfellow, who went untouched in the draft. Stringfellow is the only player left from Fullerton's 1999 College World Series team and will be counted on for veteran leadership. Leading the group of newcomers will be senior shortstop David Munoz, a transfer from Biola University.

11. Rice Owls

Wayne Graham begins his 11th season as head coach with a Rice team that features a young pitching staff balanced by a veteran, power-hitting offense.

The Owls' new ace is Steven Herce, a junior right-hander who went 6-1 with a 2.37 ERA and 63 strikeouts last season. He will be joined in the rotation by two newcomers — left-hander Justin Crowder and right-hander David Aardsma. Crowder transferred from Texas Christian after going 7-6 there last season, including two losses to Rice. Aardsma is a sophomore right-hander who came over from Penn State.

Also watch for senior Phillip Tribe, who dramatically improved his location and will be an effective reliever or starter.

Rice's offense returns the top four hitters from a year ago. The best of the bunch is infielder Hunter Brown (.335, 7 HR, 44 RBI), who is slated to take over at shortstop, moving two-year starter Eric Arnold (.325-15-65) to second base. Freshman left-handed hitter Vincent Sinisi, a transfer from Texas, will start at first base.

Rice also will count on sophomore outfielder Austin Davis, the Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year who batted .346 and made 62 starts, senior outfielder A.J. Porfirio (.345-11-55) and sophomore infielder Jose Enrique Cruz, brother of the Blue Jays' outfielder.

Other junior college transfers include catcher Justin Ruchti (San Jacinto-North College), outfielder Dane Bubela (Blinn College) and infielder Chris Kolkhorst (also from Blinn).

12. Texas Longhorns

Unfortunately for the Longhorns, the 2002 season is beginning just as the last one ended — with an untimely injury of a key player.

Last May, shortstop Omar Quintanilla had his outstanding freshman year cut short because of a facial injury. Now, Texas begins the season with the loss of junior outfielder/pitcher Ben King, who had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow Jan. 11 and will miss the entire season.

Quintanilla has recovered from his injury and returns along with seven everyday starters and seven pitchers from a team that recorded a third-place finish in the Big 12, its highest conference finish since 1996.

Quintanilla was Texas' top hitter last season, batting .367 to become the first freshman to lead the team in batting since Brooks Kieschnick in 1991. Other top returning hitters include first baseman Jeff Ontiveros and catcher Ryan Hubele, who were home run co-leaders with seven apiece.

Although Texas lost only two members from the pitching staff that posted the third-lowest ERA (3.17) in Division I, four pitchers return with starting experience. Right-handers Justin Simmons (7-3, 3.39 ERA, four complete games) and Ray Clark (3-4, 3.50) both made 11 starts and will join the rotation, along with senior Ryan France. Watch out for right-hander Alan Bomer, who transferred from the now-defunct Iowa State program after winning six games and striking out 70.

13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Who says Northern schools can't figure into the national baseball picture? You won't hear any talk like that coming from South Bend, Ind., where fans have been watching one of the nation's most exciting teams over the past few seasons.

Led by senior center fielder Steve Stanley and junior left fielder Brian Stavisky, the Big East champions return eight of nine position starters and six pitchers.

Stanley, a second-team All-American, batted .400 and became the first player at Notre Dame since 1989 to collect more than 100 hits in a season. He also led the Big East with 76 runs and ranked second with 31 steals.

Cleanup hitter Stavisky, who moves from right field to left, finished second behind Stanley with a .386 batting average, a team-high 10 home runs and 66 RBI. Other top offensive performers will be second baseman Steve Sollman, the Big East Rookie of the Year (a .362 average), senior catchers/third basemen Paul O'Toole and Andrew Bushey (they platoon at the positions), senior designated hitter Matt Bok, sophomore first baseman Joe Thaman and junior outfielder Kris Billmaier.

The pitching staff will have large holes to fill with the graduations of ace Aaron Heilman and Danny Tamayo. Junior right-handers Peter Ogilvie (5-1, 1.90 ERA) and JP Gagne (5-5, 5.35) take over as Nos. 1 and 2 in the rotation, while junior right-hander Matt Laird (5-1, 3.09, team-high four saves) also will play a significant role.

Freshman two-way player Matt Macri, a 17th-round pick of the Twins, replaces Alec Porzel at shortstop and will bat third in the lineup. Macri could handle closing duties with Laird.

14. Oklahoma State Cowboys

While the Cowboys have featured a few excellent pitchers over the years, Oklahoma State is better known for its consistently productive offenses.

This year's team is blessed with both great pitching and offense, which is why the Cowboys are ranked 14th after ending last season unranked.

"This team is deep and talented, especially the pitching staff," head coach Tom Holliday said. "I think it has all the ingredients to challenge for the conference title and a spot in the CWS."

Key for the pitching staff will be a couple of returning right-handers — senior Nick McCurdy (7-5, 3.61 ERA, 72 strikeouts) and sophomore Scott Baker (6-2, 4.05) — as well as sophomore left-hander Shane Hawk (2-4, 3.88), who made a team-high 27 appearances in 2001. Hawk moves into the rotation, while sophomore right-hander Joe Weaver (8-0, 3.23) takes over as the Cowboys' closer after appearing in 25 games and walking just 10 over 47 innings.

Oklahoma State welcomes back senior infielders Nebasett Brown, who batted a team-high .381 last season with six homers and 57 RBI, at second, Rob Watson at third and Paul Powell at first. Watson and Powell hit 10 home runs apiece in 2001, and will be counted on for power after the graduation of outfielder Luke Scott, who had 20 homers and 62 RBI last season.

15. Wichita State Shockers

Although the Shockers won 42 games last season (the 24th consecutive season with 40-plus wins), Wichita State finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference for the first time since 1986 and failed to make the NCAA tournament.

Coach Gene Stephenson knows that improvement is needed in all areas before the Shockers can return to prominence.

The 2002 pitching staff returns more than half of its wins from a year ago, though the departures of Ben Keiter (7-4, 3.29 ERA) and Erich Bryan (6-2, 3.94) will hurt. Junior Adam Peterson was drafted in the eighth round by the Yankees but opted to return. He'll factor in the rotation, along with juniors John Tetuan (5-2, 5.77) and Justin Maureau, who went 6-3 with a team-high 91 strikeouts and a 4.18 ERA. Senior right-hander Steve Haines returns at closer after leading the conference with 11 saves.

Sophomore David Sanders (5-6, 4.43, 68 strikeouts) is also in the mix and watch for Mike Dennison, a Cape Cod League All-star who led the league with 29 appearances.

Offensively, look for sophomores Logan Sorensen (.341, 16 doubles) and Bryan Erstad, the younger brother of Darin, at first base. Junior Brian Burgamy (who started at third base last season) will play second after a productive 2001 in which he led the MVC with 23 doubles and 85 hits. Brandon Green and Tanner Welch will platoon at shortstop, while five players are competing for time at third base.

The Shockers also return five outfielders, most notably senior Justin McCarty, who led the team with 12 home runs.

16. Baylor Bears

The Bears played well in 2001, but only got national attention when two players were arrested on charges of animal cruelty. Pitcher Derek Brehm and outfielder Clint Bowers are no longer affiliated with the program.

Coach Steve Smith takes a versatile offensive club and one of the deepest pitching staffs in the nation into the season.

Steven White, a first-team Big 12 selection last year and a potential first-round pick, struck out 80 and went 10-3 with a 3.49 ERA last season. He's joined in the rotation by No. 2 pitcher Justin Taylor, a senior who notched eight wins and a 2.86 ERA over 18 appearances. Freshman lefty Trey Taylor (no relation) will compete with lefty Jared Theodorakos (6-3, 3.86 ERA, 12 starts) and senior Kyle Edens (9-1 career record, 44 appearances over three seasons) to be the third starter.

Though right-hander Zane Carlson notched eight saves last season, his 1-6 record and 5.45 ERA over 24 appearances was disappointing. However, the junior returned to fine form on the Cape last summer, notching 12 saves and striking out 26 in 22 innings.

Nearly all positions remain up for grabs this spring. Smith will tinker with the lineup on occasion — going with a veteran lineup one day, and a mix of veteran and newcomers another. Junior Chris Durbin's spot in center field is secure after hitting a team-high 14 homers in 2001.

Other players set to join the lineup on a regular basis include senior outfielder/second baseman Tim Hartshorn (.322, 4 HR, 32 RBI), first baseman/outfielder Mike Huggins (.307), catcher/first baseman Paul Richmond (.313, .495 slugging percentage) and senior first baseman/designated hitter Ron Zboril (.288, 5 HR).

HoHoKam Park, the spring training home of the Chicago Cubs, will double as the temporary home of the Sun Devils for most games, as Packard Stadium gets a multimillion dollar renovation.

17. Arizona State Sun Devils

Arizona State's tough schedule (CWS participants Tennessee, Cal State Fullerton and Southern California) will test the young team. The Sun Devils lost eight starting position players and three of their top four pitchers. The top returning players are sophomores — ace right-hander Mike Esposito (5-2, 4.06 ERA) and outfielder Rod Allen (.389, 6 HR, 53 RBI).

Dennis Wyrick, who has started 97 games, all at shortstop, will play behind the plate and at third. He was fourth on the team last season with a .360 batting average. Freshman Tuffy Gosewisch, brother of former Sun Devil Chip Gosewisch, will be the Opening Day catcher. Sophomore first baseman Jeremy West (.307-6-34) will anchor the infield, while another freshman, Dustin Pedroia, won the job at second. Two-time Diamondbacks draftee Ian Kinsler, a January transfer from Central Arizona, will be a big presence at shortstop.

The outfield likely will consist of Allen, sophomore Andre Ethier, and speedy senior Doug Schutt, a transfer from North Carolina-Greensboro.

Esposito, who went 3-1 with a 1.56 ERA for Team USA in 2001, anchors a rotation that likely will feature junior lefty Bryce Kartler (0-0, 5.77, 22 appearances) and hard-throwing sophomore Ryan Schroyer (2-2, 7.31).

18. Mississippi Rebels

Mike Bianco directed Ole Miss to a memorable 39-win season, one win shy of the school record, in his first season as Rebels head coach.

If the Rebels break that record this season, outfielder Burney Hutchinson and ace Pete Montrenes are two big reasons why.

Montrenes, a senior right-hander who transferred after two seasons at Southern California, was 10-4 with a 3.45 ERA over 117 1/3 innings last season with 107 strikeouts. He is one of only two pitchers in school history (Jamey Price is the other) to register at least 10 wins and 100 strikeouts in a season.

Montrenes will be joined in the rotation by J.R. Pickens, a junior college transfer (Blinn) and No. 3 freshman pitcher Alan Horne, a 6-foot-4 right-hander who was the 27th overall pick in the June draft by Cleveland. Relief ace Adam Yates returns after setting a school record last season with 31 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings during one two-month stretch.

Hutchinson, a senior, is the team's top returning hitter (.356, 14 HR, .671 slugging percentage). He also led the Rebels with 15 steals and is a patient hitter who walked 53 times. Other returning starters include first baseman/designated hitter Josh Christian, who also hit 14 homers last year, second baseman Matt Tolbert (.289, 6 HR), third baseman/outfielder Clint Farrar (.283, 15 doubles) and shortstop Chad Sterbens (.339).

19. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Fans of the Yellow Jackets have plenty to be excited about in 2002. Five starters return from a squad that batted a school-record .347 last season, and construction is complete on the team's new $7 million, 4,354-seat stadium.

While third baseman Mark Teixeira and second baseman Richard Lewis have begun their pro careers, the Jackets still have familiar faces in the infield, including junior catcher Tyler Parker, a projected first-round pick, junior first baseman Jason Perry (.337, 14 HR), senior third baseman Matthew Boggs (.345, 45 RBI) and senior shortstop Victor Menocal (.381, team-high 102 hits, 51 RBI).

Parker missed much of the 2001 season with a broken thumb and a broken wrist but still hit .327 in limited work.

Sophomore outfielder Matt Murton (.385 in 2001), was named the Most Valuable Player of the Cape Cod League after batting .324 and finishing 19-for-19 in stolen-base attempts. Perry also starred on the Cape, leading the league with eight home runs.

Tech's pitching staff will be anchored by 6-9 sophomore left-hander Kyle Bakker, who was 4-1 in 16 appearances and had a team-low 2.78 ERA, with 49 strikeouts and just nine walks. Right-handers Jeff Watchko, a junior, and Brian Burks, a sophomore, will leave the bullpen to take starting roles, while Menocal is expected to take Watchko's place at closer.

20. Mississippi State Bulldogs

	By Brian Loden, via AP
	Ron Polk returned to the Bulldogs in 2001 after coaching Georgia to the CWS in only two seasons.

Ron Polk has come home to Mississippi State, where he won 888 games over 22 seasons from 1976 to 1997. Polk's "retirement" in 1997 lasted two years before he resurfaced at Georgia and led the Bulldogs to the CWS in only two seasons.

But Polk could not turn down the chance to wear maroon and white again. That opportunity came in June, when friend and handpicked successor Pat McMahon left to take over Florida's program.

Although Polk arrived too late in the summer to recruit players for the upcoming season, the outlook for the Bulldogs is bright, with five position starters and 10 pitchers returning.

Matthew Brinson, a sophomore first baseman, hit seven home runs and drove in 46 last year. Senior second baseman Michael Brown contributed five home runs last season, and fifth-year senior catcher Jason Burkley added 44 RBI and led the Southeastern Conference with 63 walks.

Mississippi State also returns its three weekend rotation starters: All-SEC senior right-hander Tanner Brock (7-2, 4.44 ERA), sophomore left-hander Paul Maholm (8-5, 4.50) and junior left-hander Joey Collums (3-3, 3.71). Maholm led the staff with 95 strikeouts. Junior reliever Chris Young (5-1, 2.94, team-high 27 appearances) is back for another season.

21. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

The Demon Deacons have captured three Atlantic Coast Conference titles in the past four seasons, yet have fallen short of Omaha each year.

"I get excited thinking about how this team will be together for two years," head coach George Greer said. "We have only three seniors. We have talented, young, quality pitchers. We have power and speed in the field, and experience behind the plate."

Wake Forest's greatest strength is pitching, with three of the team's top four starters — juniors Ryan Braun (4-2, 4.53 ERA), Ben Clayton (4-1, 5.09) and Kyle Sleeth (10-3, 5.03) — back. The deep bullpen features the nation's top closer, Dave Bush, the ACC tournament's Most Valuable Player. He made a 41 appearances last season, with 16 saves and a 2.65 ERA.

Wake Forest's infield gets a new look. Sophomore Jamie D'Antona (.364, 17 HR, 77 RBI) moves from first to third. Junior Nick Blue (18 steals, 31 RBI) settles in at second and power hitter Jeff Ruziecki takes over at first. Freshman Ben Ingold is the shortstop.

The Deacons will have a tough time replacing the production of outfielder Cory Sullivan. Newcomer Adam Bourassa will help. Junior Ryan Johnson also returns after hitting .423 in ACC games last season.

22. Fresno State Bulldogs

Bob Bennett, the eighth-winningest Division I baseball coach with 1,270 career victories, will retire in June at the end of his 33rd season with Fresno State.

Sure, the team will be challenged to succeed for their departing coach, but it should be competitive based on the level of veteran leadership and talent that has returned, especially on the pitching staff.

A trio of seniors — Bob Runyon (10-1, 3.54 ERA, 93 strikeouts, 127 innings), Zach Minor (8-5, 4.02) and Francisco Nieves (7-4, 4.67) — form the rotation. They tallied 100-plus innings each last season.

Another big contributor will be junior Ben Fritz, a utility player who saved seven games in relief while filling in at a variety of positions including catcher, first base and designated hitter. Last summer, Fritz shined for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots in the Alaska League, guiding them to the National Baseball Congress World Series title along with Bulldog teammate Zach Minor.

Senior Brad Harper (.297, 8 HR, 42 RBI) is back at catcher to lead the offense. One question mark, however, is how the Bulldogs will play defensively with a new regular starter at every infield position.

23. Florida Gators

Coach Pat McMahon takes over a Gator program that has had its share of ups and downs (often in the same season) over the past several years.

McMahon, a Stetson graduate, used his in-state contacts to shift Florida's recruiting focus from a national scope back to the Sunshine State, signing nine players during the fall period, eight from Florida.

The players have responded well to the new coaching staff. Only one major player transferred from the program — shortstop Kevin Estrada, returned to his native California and enrolled at Pepperdine. Florida returns eight seniors, including infielder Mark Kiger (.314, 19 steals).

Other top seniors returning include senior center fielder Matt Goss, who led the team with 11 home runs, 54 RBI and a .587 slugging percentage. Senior Ryan Shealy returns at first base and senior Aaron Davidson (.319, 6 HR, 30 steals) will play second or DH.

On the mound, the Gators will feature senior Keith Ramsey, an 11th-round pick of the Reds last June. Ramsey led the Gators in appearances (31), ERA (2.24) and saves (9) last season while striking out 56 over 52 innings. He is expected to move into the rotation, joining returning starters Alex Hart (3-4, 5.88 ERA) and lefty Jimmy Ramshaw (5-3, 5.80).

24. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Great college baseball in New Jersey?

Check out what the Scarlet Knights accomplished last season. The team won a school-record 42 games and reached the NCAA tournament for the fourth consecutive season. Come this June, Rutgers' own Bobby Brownlie could be drafted No. 1 overall.

Brownlie, a 6-1, 195-pound local product from Edison, N.J., led Team USA last summer with an 8-0 record and a 0.84 ERA, scattering just 32 hits, 30 of them singles, while striking out 63. The summer performance put Brownlie, a power pitcher who has been clocked as high as 96 mph, on top of most prospect lists.

After a 10-1 freshman season, Brownlie went 6-3 as a sophomore in 2001. He finished the season with a 2.36 ERA, throwing seven complete games among 11 starts despite missing a month with a broken right thumb.

Brownlie is the ace of a staff that returns eight including seniors Tom Wheeler (6-2, 4.04 ERA), Tom Crohan (6-2, 3.38) and Ryan Molchan (3-2, 4.06).

The Knights also return seven starting position players, including junior outfielder Val Majewski (.378, 8 HR, 54 RBI) and senior catcher Mike Popowski (.335-7-47).

Majewski will move from first base to right field. Junior Steve Normane, who hit three home runs in limited action last year, takes over at first base and will add power to the lineup.

25. Tennessee Volunteers

Although the Volunteers finished tied for third at the College World Series, they begin 2002 facing a long climb back to the top.

Tennessee will be decidedly younger this year, with only 10 upperclassmen on the roster. The Vols lost five starters and seven pitchers. Southeastern Conference Player of the Year Chris Burke was the 10th overall pick in the draft and starting pitcher Wyatt Allen went in the first round.

"With such a young team, we have a lot of work ahead of us," head coach Rod Delmonico said.

The pitching staff is the biggest question mark, with the departures of Allen, Justin Parker and Brian Gates to pro ball. The Vols' most experienced hurler, junior right-hander Brandon Crowe (6-0, 3.68 ERA, three saves), will miss the entire season after having Tommy John surgery last summer.

That leaves sophomore righty Patrick Hicklen as the staff ace. Hicklen pitched out of the bullpen last season and had a scoreless streak of 22 1/3 innings at one point. Junior college transfer Ben Riley, who battled elbow problems last season at Iowa Western Community College, is expected to contribute, and freshman right-hander Jay Sadlowe also will play.

The infield will have a new look. Junior college transfer Walter Sevilla will step in for Burke at shortstop, though don't expect him to match the incumbent's offensive stats. Freshman second baseman Nick Crowe, Brandon's brother, sophomore infielder Hunter Rigsby, senior third baseman Matt Sternberg and freshman shortstop Rob Fitzgerald could all get significant playing time. First base belongs to returning starter Dennis Gomez (.252, 3 HR).

Sophomore catcher Javi Herrera also returns after a freshman All-American season (.296, 7 HR, 45 RBI) and a summer playing with Team USA.