The shortest route from Zionsville, Ind., to the campus of Butler University as displayed on Google Maps is 11.5 miles, 29 minutes.

For Elon University junior guard Jack Isenbarger, who is from Zionsville, Butler has an integral part in his basketball past.

So when Elon takes on Butler 2 p.m. Saturday in historic Hinkle Fieldhouse on Butler’s campus as part of the Opening Games of the 2012 EA Sports Maui Invitational to open its season, Isenbarger will probably feel at home.

“I’ve heard over 100,” he said when asked how many friends and family will be in attendance. “I’m not 100 percent sure, but we’ll see what the turnout is. It’s definitely exciting to go play back home and have some family at the game and see some friends too.”

Elon head coach Matt Matheny is hoping for a little hometown rooting bloc in the stands.

“We like to play homecoming games any chance we can,” Matheny said. “This happens to be Jack’s and it’s going to be a great experience for him and our team.”

Isenbarger was a four-year starter at Zionsville High School, where he was the team’s Most Valuable Player and led the Eagles in points, assists, steals and free-throw percentage on his way to becoming a 2009-2010 McDonald’s All-American nominee.

Growing up, he said he followed the Bulldogs because they were so close.

“I grew up going to Butler basketball camp as an elementary school kid,” he said. “I grew up watching Butler basketball. Them and Indiana (University) were the first college teams I ever really watched or cheered for as a little kid. Since I’ve been in college, I haven’t felt close to them, but I felt like, before college, Butler was a school I really looked up to and always had the country’s attention because of the way they played.”

Matheny said he relied heavily on Butler head coach Brad Stevens’ “positive opinions about Jack” during the recruiting process.

In Butler, the Phoenix faces a team that perhaps is what Elon wants to become. The Bulldogs have been the national championship game two out of the last three seasons as a mid-major school, led by excellent coaching and relentless play.

It’s something Matheny is inspired by.

“What Butler’s done is extraordinary,” he said. “We very much aspire for our program to be at the level that Butler’s achieved. Even before they made the national championship game, they had been to a couple Sweet 16s. I would say we aspire to be where Butler was four or five years ago and definitely aspire to be where Butler is now. Mid-major programs that have made not only runs in the NCAA Tournament, but have had consistent success - that’s what we want and that’s what we’re chasing.”

The Phoenix will face Butler will a full lineup, something Elon has not had for most of the season, other than senior forward Roger Dugas, who has been suspended nine games.

Isenbarger dealt with what Matheny called an "elaborate common cold" earlier this week, but will play. So will sophomore guard Austin Hamilton, who has been practicing for a couple weeks and is not at full-speed, Matheny said.

Sophomore guard Kevin Blake, who has missed four weeks due to knee soreness, has been "practicing on a limited basis," Matheny said. He will be in uniform against the Bulldogs.

The matchup with Butler is the opening of a season in which Matheny feels his talent level may be at its peak.

“We’re talented enough this year that, if we can be as good as we can be on any given night, then we can be successful,” he said. “What we say is, ‘Let’s focus on the things that we’re preparing to do, and let’s do as many positive things as we can and let’s do them as often as we can and as consistent as we can and let the final score be determined by how well we play.’”

In a game like this, a non-conference game and as part of a prestigious national tournament, Matheny and his players are looking to keep it like any other game.

“We’re just looking at it as we’re going to go in there and play our basketball as hard as we can to give us the best chance to win the game,” said junior forward Ryley Beaumont. “We’re going to play our system and focus on defense. Whatever happens, happens, but we’re going to play hard and give ourselves the best chance to win.”

That’s about all one can ask for in the first game of the college basketball season.

Probable Starting Lineups

ELON: Fr. G Tanner Samson, Jr. G Jack Isenbarger, Jr. G Sebastian Koch, Jr. F Ryley Beaumont, Jr. F Lucas Troutman

Butler: Sr. G Rotnei Clark, Sr. G Chase Stigall, So. F Roosevelt Jones, Jr. F Khyle Marshall, Sr. C Andrew Smith

Other Notes

  • The Elon game notes list freshman guard Tanner Samson probably getting his first start for the Phoenix. Samson is a 6-4 first-year from Regis Jesuit High School in Littleton, Colo., sophomore forward Ryan Winters' alma-mater.
  • This is the second time these teams have met. The first matchup was Dec. 19, 2005, when Butler defeated Elon 86-40.
  • Elon freshman walk-on guard Sam Hershberger went to Butler High School in Vandalia, Ohio.