GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Between the lost opportunity at last year's College World Series, the lofty expectations placed on this year's team, the 20-1 start, the 9-8 finish and all the recent conversations leading up to Major League Baseball's amateur draft, the Florida Gators have dealt with a gamut of emotions.

With all that behind them, the Gators (45-18) can finally focus on their No. 1 goal: returning to Omaha and making a run at the program's first national championship.

Coach Kevin O'Sullivan says his team is "in a really good place right now."

Florida needs two wins in the super regionals to reach the CWS for the third consecutive year. Standing in the way is North Carolina State (43-18). The teams open a best-of-three series Saturday in Gainesville.