Indiana might have lost the best point guard in the Big 10 Conference to graduation in Yogi Ferrell, but if the seasons first two games are any indication, it has regained perhaps the conferences most explosive scorer.Back from a torn right ACL he suffered last December, 6-foot-4 junior guard James Blackmon Jr. has scored 26 and 23 points in wins over Kansas and UMass Lowell, respectively. Blackmon is canning 55.2 percent of his field goal tries, including an impressive 9-of-17 on 3-pointers.Whats more, Blackmon has enjoyed 20-point halves in both games. He victimized Kansas in the second half and extra period of a 103-99 overtime win at the Armed Forces Classic in Honolulu, then picked up where he left off in the first half of Wednesdays 100-78 pounding of UMass Lowell with another 20 points.So Blackmon, Jr. will be in the spotlight again Saturday night when the sixth-ranked Hoosiers continue the Indiana Classic at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind., against Liberty.I think theres a confidence when they look at him, Hoosiers coach Tom Crean said of Blackmon. James is a lot more explosive than what he was. Hes playing with more force. Hes playing downhill more. Hes covering more ground.I think the fact that hes moving the ball, that hes getting better defensively, thats a really good thing. To come back from an injury like that and to be a better athlete than he even was and be stronger like he is, that takes a little time for him to get used to.Blackmons presence forces opponents to respect him from 25 feet and in, leading to more scoring opportunities for teammates like 6-10 center Thomas Bryant (14 points per game, 7.5 rebounds), 6-8 forward OG Anunoby (14 points, 5.5 rebounds) and 6-3 point guard Robert Johnson (13 points, 3.5 assists).Indianas offense has been clicking on nearly all cylinders so far, canning 50 percent of its field goal attempts and nearly 45 percent on 3-pointers (26-of-58). Its ability to either get to the rim or create open 3s can test any defense.Liberty (1-1) will counter with a defense the Hoosiers have battled before -- the pack line scheme created by Dick Bennett and still run by the likes of Wisconsin and Virginia. Fourth-year coach Ritchie McKays squad held up-tempo VCU to 64 points in a five-point home loss Tuesday night.I thought everyone came in and battled, and you have to play well on the defensive end to have a chance, McKay said to the Lynchburg (Va.) News & Advance. And we had a chance.The Flames are expected to challenge Winthrop for the Big South Conference title with the return of four starters, plus the arrival of 6-7 freshman forward Brock Gardner. McKay, in his second stint as Liberty coach, said Gardner is the best player he has landed there since signing Seth Curry in 2008.Former Marquette guard John Dawson, a 6-2 senior, is the teams leading scorer at 14.5 points per game. Libertys tallest starter is 6-5, 255-pound forward Myo Baxter-Bell, which will put it at a serious disadvantage inside against the likes of Bryant and Anunoby.It is Indianas second game in the Indiana Classic and Libertys first. 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In his next at-bat, after another standing ovation, Ortiz lined the ball off Marco Estradas leg and the pitcher regrouped for an easy putout at first.In the fifth, with a runner on second, he hit a hard liner that right fielder Jose Bautista was able to chase down before it went over his head.The Red Sox had already scored two in the seventh to tie the game 3-all when Ortiz came up. He lined a 2-1 pitch from Brett Cecil into the right-field stands to make it 5-3.On a night that begins a weekend celebration, I dont know that you can write a script for what David did here tonight offensively, manager John Farrell said. Nights like tonight he almost leaves you speechless. ... (He) turned this place upside down.MOWED DOWNBig Papi was in the field.No, the longtime designated hitter didnt decide to play a few more games of defense before he retires. Instead, groundskeeper David Mellor mowed Ortizs likeness into the center field grass for the three-time World Series champions final regular-season series at Fenway Park.The image showed Ortiz pointing to the sky with both hands, the way he did when he crossed the plate following one of his 540 career homers.Ortiz said before the game that he hadnt seen the tribute but he hoped to visit the top deck at the ballpark to get a better view.STILL CHASINGIn a wide-ranging discussion in the media interview room before the series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, Ortiz also spoke about trying to play well for the rest of the regular-season and into the playoffs. Entering Friday nights game, the Red Sox were in contention for the top seed in the AL but also in danger of being the third-best division champion, which would force them to open the postseason on the road.The Red Sox won 11 straight games before being swept in New York this week, including a loss on Wednesday night -- the night they clinched the AL East for just the third time since 1995.We play to win, he said.ON DECKThe rain-soaked pregame ceremony was brief, with bigger celebrations to come over the weekend.The Red Sox took the time to acknowledge his charitable work, showing pictures of many of those helped by the David Ortiz Childrens Fund, which provides medical care for kids in New England and the Dominican Republic. Ortiz was presented with a painting by artist Peter Max.The big celebration is planned for Sunday, which barring a rainout would be the final regular-season game for Ortiz. The team is expecting to bring onto the field many of Ortizs teammates from his three World Series championships.The traditional Play ball! was delivered by three teens in Ortiz jerseys, who also shouted it in Spanish.The start of the game was delayed 25 minutes.THERE IT GOES!Asked to pick his best moment in the ballpark, Ortiz smiled.I had a lot of good at-bats here at Fenway. Im not going to lie to you, he said as reporters chuckled. But Ive got to go back to 2004 and the walkoffs.No one needed any more explaanation.ddddddddddddOrtiz had game-winning, extra-inning hits in back-to-back playoff games against the New York Yankees in the ALCS in 04 as Boston become the first major league team to rally from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series. The Red Sox went on to win the World Series -- their first in 86 years.They put us back on track, Ortiz said, turning specifically to a walkoff homer off Paul Quantrill in the 12th inning of Game 4. Thats the one at-bat I never forget about. I think about that at-bat like it was yesterday.So do Red Sox fans.NUMEROLOGYIn addition to the lawnmower art, the ballpark was decked out with banners featuring Ortizs silhouette on the left-field light stanchions.One said Thank You; the other had Ortizs No. 34.Its a likely preview of when Ortizs number is retired and hung from the facade in right field.The team also wore commemorative patches on their caps and on their sleeves.WAY BACKEven the notes about other players had an Ortiz theme.On the center field scoreboard, along with each batters photo and statistic, the team usually gives a note about his history -- anything from his favorite band to his latest hitting streak. On Friday, though, they were all along the lines of this one for Mookie Betts: David Ortiz was 16 years old when Betts was born on October 2, 1992.LINING UPIts not hard to see the seeds of the next great Red Sox teams on this years club.Although Ortiz is retiring at the age of 40, Mookie Betts is an MVP candidate and fellow twentysomethings Jackie Bradley Jr. and Xander Bogaerts also figure to anchor the lineup for years to come.Ortiz also said he thinks the ballclub will find someone to take on the leadership role he has filled for most of his time in Boston.Comparing it to the military, he said it might not just be one person, but more like a clubhouse hierarchy that will keep things in order.Youve got the generals, and then youve got different levels that follow. Everything is kind of lined up, he said. What were seeing from all the kids, they walked into the organization and they saw what their elders are trying to do. When I watch batting practice, I see myself.PARTING GIFTSA day after making the final stop of his farewell tour at Yankee Stadium, Ortiz thanked his longtime rivals for their parting gifts. The team gave him a painting, along with a leather-bound book containing letters from members of the organization past and present.Very professional, Ortiz said. I really appreciate that all of the organizations took the time to honor me. .... I didnt expect anything, but everythings so beautiful.FAR, FAR AWAYOrtiz has climbed the leaderboards in several major categories this season, passing Mickey Mantle to move into 17th on the all-time list with 541 homers and moving into a tie for eighth with Ken Griffey Jr. and Rafael Palmeiro on the baseballs career list with 1,192 extra-base hits.But even with three more games to go, Ortiz conceded defeat on one of the franchises more celebrated records: Ted Williams 502-foot homer that is the longest ever hit at Fenway Park.The June 9, 1946, homer is commemorated by a single red seat in the right field bleachers.I have been trying for that for 15 years, and I havent gotten close to it. So I dont think its going to happen, he said with a laugh. I give up. ' ' '