There isn’t a 7-footer on the Washington State University roster, or any player who resembles a true low-post banger.

But what third-year Cougars coach David Riley will ask of his trio of post players - redshirt junior Ladji Dembele and true freshmen Mohamed Sankhe and Dominik Robinson - is to be active and cover a lot of ground in an effort to screen, rebound and nudge a few opposing big men in a frantic effort to defend.

“We don’t necessarily have positional size at center,” Riley said. “We are not going to do it above the rim with rim protection. We are to do it by being out there early and hitting guys. They have to feel us early.”

Here is the team’s positional breakdown at center:

PROJECTED STARTER

LADJI DEMBELE

6-9, 260, redshirt junior

Outlook : His vast experience playing in 65 Big Ten games at Iowa over two seasons, including 21 starts at center, makes him the obvious starting-lineup choice.…