For TCU Horned Frogs and SMU Mustangs, their goals for the 2011-12 college basketball campaign is a simple one. Be better than the year before.
Conference realignment has propelled TCU into a conference that matters (the Big 12) while not having to receive thorough beat downs in the Big East. TCU, who hasn't been known for much on the basketball side since the days of Kurt Thomas and Lee Nailon, will at least be competitive in the Big 12. In the Big East? They might not win a conference game. Hank Thorns and Garlon Green will continue to lead the way for the Horned Frogs.
For SMU, the prospect of playing in a conference as wide open as Conference USA's means optimism is always in the air. Sure, Memphis is the king until the talent runs dry in the Tigers recruiting circles, but the Mustangs have invested the time and energy to get better and players like Robert Nyakundi and London Giles are providing a spark.
Here is the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll for Week 3, maybe we'll get to see TCU and SMU here one day.
| ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll: |
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| RK | TEAM | RECORD | PTS |
| 1 | North Carolina (30) | 3-0 | 774 |
| 2 | Kentucky (1) | 4-0 | 732 |
| 3 | Ohio State | 3-0 | 708 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 4-0 | 668 |
| 5 | Syracuse | 4-0 | 652 |
| 6 | Duke | 4-0 | 640 |
| 7 | Louisville | 3-0 | 555 |
| 8 | Memphis | 1-0 | 497 |
| 9 | Florida | 2-1 | 480 |
| 10 | Baylor | 3-0 | 443 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 3-0 | 438 |
| 12 | Xavier | 3-0 | 394 |
| 13 | Alabama | 5-0 | 379 |
| 14 | Kansas | 1-1 | 327 |
| 15 | Michigan | 3-0 | 288 |
| 16 | Pittsburgh | 2-1 | 252 |
| 17 | Marquette | 4-0 | 241 |
| 18 | California | 3-0 | 216 |
| 19 | Gonzaga | 3-0 | 208 |
| 20 | Florida State | 4-0 | 189 |
| 21 | Missouri | 3-0 | 181 |
| 22 | Vanderbilt | 3-1 | 179 |
| 23 | Arizona | 4-1 | 134 |
| 24 | Texas A&M | 3-1 | 65 |
| 25 | Creighton | 4-0 | 62 |
Others receiving votes: Mississippi State 58, Purdue 48, Villanova 48, Texas 31, UNLV 23, Cincinnati 23, Northwestern 22, Temple 20, Cleveland State 20, Saint Louis 12, Michigan State 12, George Mason 10, Illinois 8, Long Beach State 8, San Diego State 8, Saint Mary's 6, Oklahoma State 6, Washington 3, Virginia 2, Indiana 2, Marshall 1, Harvard 1, Notre Dame 1