Stopping Michigan's Danny Wolf in Sweet 16 required team effort from Johni Broome, Auburn

ATLANTA — As the Michigan lead began to rise, so did the fans who made the 700-plus mile journey to Friday’s Sweet 16 showdown against Auburn.

Moments before the Wolverines’ star forward reached the 20-point mark by driving on Naismith Player of the Year finalist Johni Broome, chants of “DAN-NY WOLF” began echoing through the maize-and-blue portion of State Farm Arena. 

But after a half of futile attempts at stopping the former Ivy Leaguer turned pro prospect, Auburn finally figured out a way to slow the 7-foot junior, holding him scoreless for the final 13 minutes on the way to a comeback 78-65 win.

“All I really cared about was getting a win, and we weren’t able to do it,” said Wolf, who shot 9-of-18 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from 3. “Credit to Auburn, but I had no intention of really showing anyone what type of game I played.”

After Wolf contributed to the Bulldogs’ first-round upset of Auburn a year ago, Broome and other Auburn returners made it clear “it was personal” to get a win. But it took a five-man effort to slow Michigan’s 7-foot duo of Wolf and center Vladislav Goldin, Broome said.

“That’s a great front line,” Broome said. “But we wanted to challenge ourselves and make it tough for him and (Goldin). I credit my whole front line, even our guards, for extending the ball pressure and not making it easy.”

Despite the loss, Wolf was a leader of one of the biggest single-season turnarounds in college basketball history, from 8-24 a year ago to 19 additional wins and a Big Ten Tournament championship this year. 

Not even Wolf, a die-hard Michigan fan growing up, likely saw that coming when he transferred from Yale — but through visible emotion, he recounted the uncertainty of the portal that gave way to a childhood dream realized.

“When I left Yale, I didn’t know what my basketball future held,” Wolf said. “I’d grown up a big Michigan fan and sported a ton of Michigan clothes. After all their Final Fours, all I wanted for my birthday was signed basketballs … (this year) was arguably the greatest year of my life. I made so many amazing relationships. I met my brothers for life.”

Gunter Schroeder is a student in the University of Georgia’s Sports Media Certificate program.