Top teams to watch

ARIZONA STATE

3B Jeff Larish and OF Travis Buck could be first-round draft picks.

CAL STATE FULLERTON

Titans will attempt to become fifth program to repeat as national champs.

GEORGIA

Bulldogs were surprise team of Southeastern Conference last season, sharing league championship after being picked to finish near bottom, and advanced to CWS.

LOUISIANA STATE

Tigers have seven pitchers and six starting position players back from last season – and one of nation’s top recruiting classes.

MIAMI

New era begins for Hurricanes, who will compete in Atlantic Coast Conference after playing as independent for 60 years and winning four national titles.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Gamecocks, who have made three straight trips to Omaha, have most wins among Division I teams during past five seasons with 260.

STANFORD

Cardinal’s top two hitters – juniors Lowrie and Mayberry – power an offense that led Pac-10 in slugging, runs per game and homers per game.

TEXAS

CWS runner-up earned preseason No. 1 rankings in three polls, in large part because Longhorns return most of starters on offense.

TEXAS A&M

Aggies return six of nine regulars and 10 pitchers from team that went 42-22.

TULANE

Preseason No. 1 ranking by Baseball America is program’s highest ranking in 113-year history.

– Dennis Waszak Jr.