I know Cameron can be dominant on the boards and blocking shots when "good Lard" shows up, and Jacobson has added a lot to his game since his tenure in Lincoln.
However, Lard still struggles to not foul (which is a function of positioning) and Jacobson, while quite good against teams with smaller posts in the non-conference, has had more of the same difficulties he had in the Big Ten against Big 12 bodies.
Solomon is their height but 20 pounds more of muscle. We could sure use that about now. I was excited to see what he could do as a junior, which is when big men really develop.
Honestly, Solomon, as that big rock/anchor in the middle, might have been the best "system" fit of the three to start and play alongside the four-guard style if he was healthy.
Morris
Mitrou-Long
Thomas/Jackson
Burton
Young
...worked really well for Solomon doing exactly what you said. He played good positional defense down low, was tough and physical, clogged the lane with a big body, created space by boxing out and setting screens, never had a play ran for him and occasionally cleaned up some trash on the boards, and accepted this auxiliary role without even thinking about it.
We have a lot of chuckers on the perimeter. We need a team guy out there like that.
Swapping out the guards above for the ones now...
Weiler-Babb
Haliburton
Horton-Tucker/Wigginton
Shayok
Young
...would have probably worked pretty nicely.