OMAHA, Neb. — The locals who have grown accustomed to watching Texas at the College World Series year in and year out don't know whether to greet the Longhorns with "Howdy, stranger," or "Welcome back."

The Longhorns are in Omaha for a record 33rd time but the first time in four years.

Bracket 1 play opens today with Arkansas (39-22) meeting No. 2-seeded Cal State Fullerton (47-14) in the afternoon and Virginia (48-13-1) facing No. 3 LSU (51-16) at night. Tomorrow's Bracket 2 first-round games pit No. 5 Arizona State (49-12) and No. 4 North Carolina (47-16) in the afternoon and Southern Miss (40-24) against Texas (46-14-1) at night.

Winners emerging from double-elimination bracket play meet in the best-of-three finals starting June 22.

Texas will try to become the first No. 1 seed to win the CWS since Miami in 1999. No team seeded among the top eight nationally has won the title since Rice in 2003.

Like the past two champions, Fresno State and Oregon State, the Longhorns' roster is short on high draft picks and All-Americans.

Augie Garrido, college baseball's all-time winningest coach, said he's more concerned with developing successful college players than pro prospects.

"At what point does physical talent supercede the heart and soul of a player?" Garrido said. "You've got to have 25 people working together, and that's what baseball is really about."

The Longhorns come in ranked 196th out of 288 teams in home runs (39), 208th in batting (.287) and 216th in scoring (6.0).

But the Longhorns are first nationally in fewest hits allowed (7.3 per game), second in ERA (2.84), fourth in fielding (.979) and ninth in walks allowed (2.63).

Taylor Jungmann (8-3, 2.27 ERA) and Chance Ruffin (10-2, 3.02) lead a pitching staff that has posted six shutouts.

COLLEGE WORLD SERIES CAPSULES

BY BLAIR KERKHOFF

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

• Arizona State — The Sun Devils lead the nation in earned run average at 2.78 and top the field in runs per game (8.0). Mike Leake, taken by the Reds with the No. 8 overall pick, has been dominant with a 16-1 record, 1.36 ERA and 150 strikeouts.

• Arkansas — Coach Dave Van Horn, a Kansas City native, joins the short list of coaches who has brought two teams to Omaha at least twice. He also did it with Nebraska. The leader is shortstop Ben Tschepikow, who is hitting .310 with nine homers.

• Cal State Fullerton — The Titans have the nation's top RPI and had an easy run through the regionals. Two of the three starting pitchers, Noe Ramirez and Tyler Pill, are freshmen. First baseman Jared Clark has 81 RBI and he's hitting .565 in the postseason.

• LSU — The Tigers, making their 15th trip to Omaha and looking for their first title since 2000, are the nation's top-ranked team. Left fielder Ryan Schimpf is LSU's big numbers guy — 19 home runs, 63 RBI, 18 stolen bases.

• North Carolina — The Tar Heels make their fourth straight trip to Omaha. First baseman Dustin Ackley, the second overall selection to the Mariners, swings the big bat, and starting pitcher Alex White also was a first-round selection.

• Southern Mississippi — The Eagles make their first trip to Omaha in coach Corky Palmer's final season. Sophomore pitcher Todd McInnis is the staff workhorse. Centerfielder Bo Davis (.371, 14 homers) is the offensive leader.

• Texas — Terrific pitching, suspect hitting for the Big 12 regular season and tournament champion. Coach Augie Garrido knows about all the good Omaha restaurants. This is his 13th trip and he's looking for his sixth championship.

• Virginia — A young but solid all-around team makes its first visit to the World Series, although coach Brian O'Connor knows the territory. He grew up across the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and played in the 1991 World Series for Creighton.