If it's not the wild, wild West, it's at least the wide-, wide-open West.

The SEC Western Division men's basketball race doesn't have a definitive favorite. But it clearly is divided into the three haves and the three have-nots.

Alabama, LSU and Arkansas are contenders. Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Auburn won't be in the race but could ultimately decide it with a timely upset come late February.

When practice opened in October, 2004-05 co-champion Alabama was the general choice to win the West, with co-champion LSU and Arkansas dueling for second place.

It may well turn out that way, but thus far Alabama hasn't played championship basketball, despite the presence of two preseason All-SEC first-team picks, Chuck Davis and Ronald Steele.

The Crimson Tide has come up short in all its games against all the high-major opponents.

LSU, meanwhile, has been putting up some big numbers and leads the nation in rebounding. The Tigers have a couple of impact freshmen and the return of Tack Minor for the second semester could solidify the backcourt.

Arkansas, meanwhile, might be ready to get back in the hunt after four winters of hibernation. The Razorbacks' Ronnie Brewer is in the running for SEC player of the year.

Here's a capsule look at the West teams:

Alabama (5-4)

Best win: Louisiana Tech, 73-63.

Worst loss: Temple, 68-58.

They miss: Earnest Shelton.

Impact newcomer: Richard Hendrix. The blue-chip freshman forward is contributing off the bench (6.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg).

Most improved: Justin Jonas. The sophomore wing was hardly noticeable last year. Moving into the starting lineup, Jonas is averaging 8.3 ppg and shooting 52.8 percent from 3-point range.

The Crimson Tide has been an unqualified disappointment, losing to Memphis, Notre Dame, Temple and North Carolina State. There's not a quality win in the books yet. It's hard to fault the big men. Jermareo Davidson is averaging a double/double and Chuck Davis is scoring (18.1 ppg) like the first-team All-SEC pick that he is.

Ronald Steele is considered by many to be the premier point guard in the league, but he's not shooting well. What's missing? Other than Jonas, Bama hasn't gotten consistent perimeter shooting, which is why Earnest Shelton is sorely missed. Several opponents have torched the Tide from long range, which may be bad defense or bad luck.

Arkansas (9-2)

Best win: Kansas, 65-64.

Worst loss: Maryland, 75-62.

They miss: Olu Famutimi (but not much).

Impact newcomer: Vincent Hunter. The athletic 6-10 forward is back after a medical redshirt season, averaging 4.3 ppg.

Most improved: Jonathan Modica. After a junior slump, Modica is back in the groove, scoring at a 13.5 ppg clip and shooting 51.8 percent.

The Razorbacks brought six of their top seven players back from an 18-win team and should be a factor in the division. SEC player-of-the-year-candidate Ronnie Brewer is a threat at both ends of the court: 19.4 ppg; 38 steals.

Seven-footer Steven Hill isn't much of an offensive threat, but doesn't have to be as long as Darian Townes (10.7 ppg) and Charles Thomas (9.5 ppg) are scoring close to double-figures.

With a veteran team, coach Stan Heath needs to deliver the Razorbacks' first NCAA bid since 2001 or his future will in doubt. The team has battled injuries thus far but is getting healthy in time for conference play.

Auburn (5-3)

Best win: Temple, 73-42.

Worst loss: Pittsburgh, 78-41.

They miss: Toney Douglas.

Impact newcomer: Korvotney Barber. One of three freshmen starting, Barber's defensive and rebounding are as important as his scoring (7.1 ppg).

Most improved: Ronny LeMelle. The team's only senior, LeMelle has doubled last year's scoring output to 13.3 ppg and is hitting 47.7 percent of his treys.

Year two of the Jeff Lebo era is even more of a transition year than his first. The Tigers lost four double-figures scorers off a 14-win team, including leading scorer Toney Douglas who transferred to Florida State.

The rotation includes five freshmen, two sophomores and LeMelle. Auburn's inside game plays on training wheels as freshman Barber, Josh Dollard and Joey Cameron get acclimated. Dollard (8.4 ppg) has been the most productive offensively.

The key player is freshman point guard Quantez Robinson. He is playing 32 minutes a game. That will only go up since backup Michael Woodard quit the team two weeks ago, leaving Robinson the only true point guard.

The Tigers will struggle to score at times and Lebo will have to keep games close by mixing defenses and trapping effectively.

LSU (7-3)

Best win: West Virginia, 71-60.

Worst loss: Houston, 84-83.

They miss: Brandon Bass.

Impact newcomer: Tyrus Thomas. Surprise! Thomas, a redshirt freshman forward, has been even more productive than heralded Tasmin Mitchell. Thomas comes off the bench to average 13.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and is shooting an eye-popping 68 percent.

Most improved: Darnell Lazare. The junior forward is making the most of his promotion to being a starter, scoring at a 9.0 clip.

If a shot comes off the rim, stand back and watch the Tigers attack. LSU leads the nation in rebounding margin with a differential of 20.1 per game. Glen Davis, the 310-pound sophomore, is averaging 10.6 boards a game to go along with his 20.1 scoring average.

Lazare, Thomas and Mitchell complement Davis to give LSU a voracious rebounding game. Small forward Mitchell is as good as advertised, averaging 11.3 ppg and 7.6 rebounds in 34 minutes a game.

With senior Darrel Mitchell leading the perimeter scoring at 19.0 ppg, the Tigers have ample firepower. They rank in the top 20 nationally in shooting percentage, scoring and scoring margin.

The recent return of junior Tack Minor, who was on academic suspension through the summer and fall, should alleviate the inexperience issue at point guard. Minor's challenge is to stay under control and yet get up to speed quickly.

Ole Miss (8-3)

Best win: Saint Louis, 77-64.

Worst loss: New Mexico, 95-42.

They miss: Kendrick Fox.

Impact newcomer: Dwayne Curtis. The 6-8, 290-pound transfer from Auburn is the leading scorer (12.2) and rebounder (7.0).

Most improved: Bam Doyne. A role player for two years, Doyne steps up as a starter on the wing and is averaging 10.3 ppg.

The Rebels lost four starters off a 14-17 team, but are potentially improved. That tells you something about last year's starters.

Curtis is at least a slight upgrade at center over departed Tommy Eddie. The guy who will be missed is Fox, who provided 3-point shooting. There's not a go-to scorer, but veterans Londrick Nolen and Todd Abernethy and juco-transfer guard Clarence Sanders are all in the 8-to-9 ppg range.

As usual, Ole Miss will have to hope defensive energy levels the playing field against superior talent.

Mississippi State (9-3)

Best win: Charlotte, 53-38.

Worst loss: Southeast Louisiana, 57-46.

They miss: Lawrence Roberts.

Impact newcomer: Jamont Gordon. The Nashvillian is already State's best player.

Most improved: Dietric Slater. Out of necessity, the junior forward has elevated his game, scoring 10.3 ppg and shooting 59.7 percent.

Did Hurricane Katrina hit Starkville? All five starters and the top six scorers from the team that won a first-round NCAA game last March are gone. Jamall Edmondson (4.8 ppg last year), a 5-9 guard, is the leading returning scorer.

Edmondson is averaging 14.5 ppg this year but the 6-4 Gordon is the guy to watch. He's contributing 13.4 points and 5.8 rebounds. Another Tennessee-import freshman guard, Reginald Delk, is also playing a significant role (8.1 ppg).

The Bulldogs lack a go-to man in the paint, which is unfortunate since they're shooting only 31.2 percent from 3-point range. Wesley Morgan, one of five Tennesseans on the roster, won't score much but the 7-2 senior has developed into a respectable rebounder and shot-blocker.