2002 Final Poll

January 2, 2003

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.

	Team	2002 Record	2002 Final Rank
1.	Georgia Tech	52-16	8
2.	Rice	52-14	5
3.	Stanford	47-18	4
4.	Florida State	60-14	7
5.	Texas	57-15	1
6.	Southern California	37-24	14
7.	Wake Forest	47-13	12
8.	Arizona State	37-21	22
9.	Louisiana State	44-22	11
10.	Baylor	36-26	NR
11.	Houston	48-17	10
12.	Notre Dame	50-18	6
13.	Cal State Fullerton	37-22	NR
14.	South Carolina	57-18	2
15.	Richmond	53-13	16
16.	Long Beach State	39-21	21
17.	Mississippi State	34-24	NR
18.	Stetson	42-19	NR
19.	Clemson	54-17	3
20.	Nebraska	47-21	9
21.	Auburn	34-26	NR
22.	North Carolina	43-21	17
23.	South Alabama	42-19	NR
24.	Florida Atlantic	46-21	19
25.	Virginia Commonwealth	38-27	NR