If you mention the word “Auburn” around Michigan forward Danny Wolf, his mind instantly goes back to one of his warmest memories.

He was one of the stars of a Yale team that beat four-seed Auburn in the first round of the 2024 NCAA tournament, a moment he cherishes, but one his opponents Friday night want to forget.

“I want to think it was one of the highlights of my basketball career,” Wolf said Thursday, ahead of his new team’s Sweet 16 matchup with Auburn. “We had a clear underdog mentality that game, but we knew how good we were, and we knew what we were capable of.”

The game was not necessarily the best of Wolf’s career, shooting 4-for-15 from the floor, but he finished the game with 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and a shocking upset win over the Tigers.

Now playing for Michigan, he’ll face Auburn for the first time since that memorable day in Spokane last season, once again as an underdog, but this time with a Sweet 16 berth on the line.

“I think that’s the same mentality this year although not as big of an underdog type mentality‚” Wolf said, reflecting on his win over Auburn with Yale and comparing it to Friday’s game.

Wolf is also one piece of arguably the most intriguing frontcourt matchup in this year’s NCAA tournament. It’s an individual battle between him and Auburn’s All-American forward, Johni Broome, while the tandem of Wolf and Vladislav Goldin faces off against Broome and Dylan Cardwell.

It’s rare in modern basketball for teams to play two traditional centers in the lineup at the same time, but Friday’s game will feature two of the best pairs in the country.

Despite losing the game, Broome got the better of Wolf in their matchup last season, scoring 24 points and 13 rebounds. Wolf said he held his own in their first battle and that he’s a “far different player” than he was last season.

With the combination of Broome and Cardwell facing Wolf and his team this time around, it brings a different challenge to both teams, a challenge that Wolf is welcoming.

“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 said. “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.”

Friday’s Sweet 16 game between Auburn and Michigan is set to tip off at 8:39 p.m. The game will be televised on CBS.

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