Correction
This story misspelled the name of Oklahoma State basketball player Malcoln Kirkland.

STILLWATER — In honor of final exams week at Oklahoma State, here's a multiple choice question for basketball coach Travis Ford:

Now that starting post player Ibrahima Thomas and the Cowboys have officially parted company, who will plug the hole in the middle?

A. Senior forward Anthony Brown.

B. Freshman center Teeng Akol.

C. Sophomore forward Malcoln Kirland.

D. Sophomore forward Marshall Moses.

The answer? All of the above.

"It's going to be by committee," Ford said before a Tuesday practice at Gallagher-Iba Arena. "Whoever is playing well will get to play."

Ford indicated his team has experience playing without Thomas because the 6-foot-11 sophomore was frequently in foul trouble. In the Cowboys' first seven games, Thomas fouled out twice and picked up four fouls three times.

OSU starts four guards. As the team proceeds forward minus Thomas, Ford said he could go with a smaller lineup and utilize Obi Muonelo and James Anderson at the four and five spots "if we needed to do that."

Brown said the Cowboys will be fine. He started in Thomas' place in a loss to Washington last week and, listed at 6-6, was OSU's tallest starter. Brown told reporters he thinks he is 6-8. Regardless, he vowed to play hard and do whatever he can to help the team.

But is Brown so outsized at the five spot that OSU will be at a disadvantage?

"That's not going to be a problem," Brown said.

"I can deal with the big guys in the post."

Brown said a lack of size will be more of an issue on defense than on offense.

OSU could get immediately taller by employing Akol, who is 6-11, but he didn't start practicing until last week, when he was finally declared eligible by the NCAA. Ford said Akol is "a long way away" from being game-ready.

"These other guys are so far ahead of him, I don't know if he will actually catch them this year," Ford said.

Ford said Akol is behind in conditioning and doesn't know any plays.

"From what I have seen in the last week, I am really excited about him," Ford said. "He just hasn't gone against competition in so long he is still just adjusting."

Akol accompanied OSU to Seattle last week, but did not play. Ford said he did not consider using Akol against Washington. But Ford would like to get Akol on the court Sunday, when OSU plays a road game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Akol indicated Tuesday he will be closer to game shape in about a week. Asked whether he wants to share the burden of replacing Thomas, he said, "Definitely. I was surprised. I didn't know he was going to leave. I need to step my game up and be responsible."