When Auburn men’s basketball played Creighton in the NCAA tournament second round, all eyes were on the matchup down low between Ryan Kalkbrenner and Johni Broome.

It was a clash of All-Americans, but it was a one-on-one battle between two talented players at one position. There’s nothing too uncommon about that.

When Auburn plays Michigan in the Sweet 16 Friday night, it will be a clash of two-center lineups, something rarely seen in modern basketball. Not only is it two big lineups facing off, it’s arguably two of the best frontcourts in college basketball going head-to-head.

Michigan’s Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf will matchup with Auburn’s Broome and Dylan Cardwell, with all four players measuring 6-foot-10 or taller.

“Now they obviously start Johni and Dylan in arguably one of the best frontcourts in the country. I like to think that our frontcourt room is one of the best frontcourts in the country as well,” Wolf told reporters Thursday. “I know we’re all really excited for the opportunity, and it’s not often that you get two elite frontcourts going at it this late in the season.”

What makes the tandem of Wolf and Goldin so unique is their versatility. As Cardwell pointed out in Auburn’s locker room Thursday, it’s rare to have two true centers on the court at the same time who are effective offensively and solid defensively.

Wolf and Goldin are Michigan’s top two scorers, but also have the two best bayesian defensive performance ratings on the team, according to EvanMiya.

Each of the two players are used differently, though, with unique skillsets.

While standing at 7-feet, 250 pounds, Wolf has a guard-like skillset, where he’s comfortable with the ball in his hands and playing on the perimeter. He held an assist rate of 24.2% in Big Ten play this season, leading the team and ranking 12th in the conference.

He’s capable of making plays for himself and others with the ball in his hands. Some of that action comes in big-to-big pick and rolls with Goldin.

Both players can shoot well enough to keep defenses honest, meaning oftentimes both of the defending bigs have to play up far enough to respect the pick and pop or a 3-pointer off the dribble. If Goldin then slips the screen, it creates a favorable matchup for Michigan if the opponent has to slide a guard over to help.

Auburn has some experience with Wolf, facing him when he was Yale’s center in last year’s NCAA tournament. While that gives the Tigers some familiarity with his tendencies, the way in which he’s utilized is different.

“He’s doing so much more with the ball in his hands, with ball screens, and different things like that, that he wasn’t doing with Yale last year,” said Auburn assistant coach Steven Pearl, the team’s defensive coordinator. “I think he’s really added to his game. He’s gotten a lot better, and he was damn good last year as well.”

Goldin is more of a traditional offensive center but is still a tough cover defensively. He’s skilled on the block with his back to the basket and his physicality makes him difficult to cover one-on-one.

He has the strength to back players down and finish through them, but also has the touch to finish over defenders at the rim, shooting 64% on 2-pointers this season.

For Auburn, no player will be more important in this matchup than Cardwell. He’s the Tigers’ strongest interior defender, but has shown an ability to move his feet and guard on the perimeter.

He obviously can’t guard two players at once, but there are few players better suited to cover Michigan’s big-to-big actions than Cardwell, with his versatile defensive skillset.

“It’s going to be fun,” Cardwell said. “It’s going to be interesting and unique. I’m appreciative of going against two great guys, two NBA prospects as well.”

Cardwell staying out of foul trouble — something he has struggled with at times — might be the biggest key to the game for Auburn. The Tigers don’t have anyone else who can quite replicate what he gives them defensively.

The other big challenge for Auburn will be on the glass. The Tigers have struggled at times this season against bigger teams and Michigan ranks in the top 100 in offensive rebound percentage.

It’s going to take a combined effort from Cardwell, Broome, Chaney Johnson and even Auburn’s guards to do their part defending the glass.

For Auburn’s two decorated big men, it’s an opportunity for another signature performance. It may be their toughest individual task of the season, but it has more on the line than any other matchup in their careers.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m