Soles squeak, balls thump and the coach calmly barks out instructions - in this case, areas of attack against Michigan’s 1-3-1 zone defense. It’s a standard basketball symphony. The stage for this particular performance, however, is a bit unusual.

It’s found in a nondescript brick building on the tiny campus of Concordia University in Ann Arbor, distinguished only by a 2-foot tall sign out front that reads ‘Gymnasium.’

Inside, the NAIA Cardinals are more likely to be preparing for a conference game against Aquinas College or Madonna University. On this day, on their single court lined with simple bleachers - stacked nine high on one side, 11 on the other - they’re getting ready for their night in the big time.

Tonight, Concordia makes a four-mile trip across Ann Arbor to play Michigan (7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network) at Crisler Arena. Just two days after losing 100-98 to the University of Michigan-Dearborn, the Cardinals complete an unusual home-and-home series at the Michigan main campus.

It’s a line on Michigan’s schedule that elicits scoffs or indifference at the Diag. Across town, where US-23 and Geddes Road intersect, it’s the talk of campus.

“It really is a big opportunity for us. I’m sure Michigan didn’t realize when they scheduled it to what extent this is going to be great for us,” said Ben Limback, Concordia’s basketball coach and athletic director.

“Best-case scenario we pull off the biggest upset in Concordia history. Worst-case scenario, we walk away with life-long memories. It’s an opportunity that these guys might not have ever had and they’ll be able to talk about for the rest of their lives and tell their grandkids they played in Crisler Arena.”

The excitement reaches well beyond the gymnasium. For Concordia and its roughly 700 students - which accounts for traditional, non-traditional and online enrollees - it’s about school exposure and a chance to build excitement and pride on campus.

The hottest topic at last Thursday’s Board of Regents meeting? Tonight’s game, of course. Limback has gotten good luck messages from alumni around the country and has been stopped on campus to talk strategy.

The school has nearly sold out an allotment of 500 tickets and the admissions department is enticing prospective students with seats.

One group of students - led by the school’s Cardinal mascot - is walking to the game, collecting pledges for each mile to benefit a campus-wide fundraiser for patients at Mott Children’s Hospital.

Yes, it’s a big deal at Concordia. And, yes, the Cardinals will be overmatched.

Players are too competitive to admit it, of course, but Limback isn’t. After overhearing some players being interviewed about the game, he leans back against his office’s cinder-block wall and talks about watching Michigan play Clemson on television - like any Ann Arbor-area basketball fan might - and then remembering he has to figure out a way to guard them.

“It’s almost more of an experience. I think the guys might have said something about it being a regular ol’ game and tried to throw the clichés out,” Limback says. “But I think they’re kind of kidding themselves when they compare Michigan-Dearborn to Michigan in Crisler Arena. I think we’re realistic, but we’ll be playing to win without a doubt, game-planning the same way we always do. I think that’s what they meant.”

“We know what’s going to happen and what to expect with the size and the speed disadvantage. But we want to get something out of this, too. We want to see some character, some heart, see them play through from start to finish.”

Between the clichés about bringing their lunch pail and hard hat, Concordia senior guard Marius Williams, a Belleville High School graduate, admits he’ll have his DVR set to record at 7:30 p.m. tonight.

“It’s huge. It’s basically living out every NAIA player’s dream, to play on a big stage like that,” he said. “Especially at Michigan, for us local guys.”

Limback says Williams is the closest to a Division I player on Concordia’s roster. Though generously listed at 5-foot-11, he’s exceptionally quick and leads the team in scoring (17.2 points), assists (3.7) and steals (1.6).

Williams also is no stranger to the big-time college atmosphere. As a freshman at Division II Arkansas-Monticello, his team played at Texas, Tennessee and West Virginia.

While Williams might be the quickest player on the floor tonight, Cardinal sophomore Ryan Walton will certainly be the most sculpted athlete. He has put 10 pounds of muscle on his 6-4 frame since graduating from Lincoln High School and looks ready to hop into an MMA octagon.

It’s Walton who uses the most acceptable cliché while discussing tonight’s game. And it’s somewhat appropriate, since “shock the world” became a rallying cry during Michigan’s 1989 national championship season.

“We don’t have anything to lose. Everybody’s going to think Concordia is going to get blown out,” Walton said. “I’m coming in with the mindset, and I think the rest of my teammates are, let’s just play.

“Worst case scenario, we lose. It’s just a game. If we win, we shock the world.”

The most likely scenario, of course, is an easy Michigan win. And that will leave fans wondering how the Wolverines benefitted from a game against a neighboring NAIA school.

“That’s why I owe Michigan a lot of credit to give us this opportunity,” Limback said. “It’s something these guys will never forget and coaches probably won’t forget, either. It’s a big deal to us.”

Rich Rezler is a sports producer and sports writer at AnnArbor.com. Contact him at 734-623-2553 or richrezler@annarbor.com.