TheWolverine.com reports that offensive tackle Blake Bars committed to U-M for the 2012 class.

Rivals.com rates the Nashville, Tenn. native from Montgomery Bell Academy as a four-star prospect and the No. 34 offensive tackle nationally. He is listed at 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds. He would be U-M's 18th commitment in the class.

Jeff Evans

• Blake Bars, the 6-6, 275-pound lineman prospect from Nashville (Tenn.), has decided to spurn the Sunbelt for the charms of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Bars, rated the No. 34 lineman recruit in the country according to Rivals.com, turned down schools like South Carolina, LSU, and Florida in order to be apart of Brady Hoke's momentous recruiting class, making it official on Sunday night: "My family is cheering here, and we're pumped. I was just sitting here and I asked my family why did I not commit to them yet. So I called up Coach Smith and told him. I then called up Coach Hoke and told him. It's been a really exciting night." [MGBL]

• Arizona Diamondbacks closer J.J. Putz was able to relive his college days over the weekend with a stop in Ann Arbor: "It's fair to say that our family bleeds maize and blue," said Putz, who pitched for the Wolverines from 1996-99. "I have tremendous pride in the university." [MLB]

• Have to agree with Southestern Conference fans who are sick of Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany blaming cold weather for the Big Ten's lack of success in the College World Series. Sports should be about persevering through adversity (perceived or real) and not "lawyering up," making veiled threats or begging for special concessions. [OMAHA]

• Two of the best player in the state of Ohio, running back Bri’onte Dunn and lineman Kyle Kalis, have "no chance" of going to Ohio State according to Dave Biddle, a recruiting insider for ohiostate.247.com: “These guys aren’t just decommitting, they have written off going to OSU. Word going around at both St. Eds (Saint Edwards where Kalis attends) and GlenOak are that the Buckeyes have “no chance at landing either of them.” Both players have Michigan offers. [BR]
  

Jeff Evans

Michigan sophomore guard Tim Hardaway Jr. led the U.S. with 18 points, but the USA U19 Team lost, 101-72, to Lithuania's U20 Team in an exhibition game Sunday at Panevëzys, Lithuania.

The Americans will play another exhibition Tuesday against the Lithuania U19 Team in Vilnius, Lithuania. The FIBA U19 World Championship is Thursday through July 10 in Valmiera, Liepaja and Riga, Latvia.

Free Press staff reports

Jeff Evans

Posted by Bryan Fischer

Michigan no longer plans to run a fast-paced, spread offense under new coach Brady Hoke, but the Wolverines are running a fast-paced, spread-over-the-country recruiting plan. They continued their recruiting success Sunday, adding the commitment of Nashville (Tenn.) offensive lineman Blake Bars after his second unofficial visit to Ann Arbor.

"Overall I had a great feel for it," Bars told Scout. "I felt like I would fit in well. They have a great program. I really like coach Hoke and his staff. The academic support is there. I also really like the campus. I feel like all three of those things factored into my decision."

Not to be overlooked, a key factor in the 6-foot-5, 275-pound tackle's decision to commit to Michigan was Hoke's ability to convey a sense of family to the out-of-state player.

"While we were up there we sat in coach Hoke's office for 45 minutes," Bars said. "He talked about his philosophy and what he looks for in players. He said he keeps his players in check athletically, academically and off-the-field. He said he would be like a second family to us.

Bars held offers from schools such as Clemson, Florida, Penn State and LSU. His father was a linebacker at Notre Dame; he does not, however, have an offer from the Irish. His older brother is a defensive end for the Nittany Lions, so he certainly has a good college football pedigree.

The verbal pledge from Bars is Michigan's 18th for the class of 2012. He also becomes the fourth offensive lineman to commit to Hoke and the Wolverines.

Jeff Evans

Michigan basketball recruit Austin Hatch, who was critically injured in a Friday night plane crash that killed his father and stepmother, will be brought out of the medically induced coma on Monday, his high school coach Dan Kline said today.

Hatch, a junior who plays at Ft. Wayne (Ind.) Canterbury, is in a Traverse City hospital and Kline said his grandmother, members of his family and many friends are with him.

“Everything’s kind of the same,” Kline said. “Today’s an important day. This is the 48-hour range and they’re trying to keep the stimulation down (on the brain) to see if the swelling goes down. The plan right now is to bring him out of the medicine (Monday.)”

• Related: Plane crash puts U-M recruit in critical condition

Kline said it’s unclear what will happen at that point, but the reports he’s getting are that “nothing has really changed, but he’s holding his own.”

A number of his teammates have gone to visit him but the area is so full with friends and family that visitors are being limited.

“They’re optimistic and pulling for him,” Kline said. “They said he looks like the same Austin.”

Kline is planning to go to the hospital on Monday for a few days.

Michigan offered Hatch, along with a few other players, on the first day that juniors could be offered, according to National Association of Basketball Coaches guidelines. Hatch quickly accepted, becoming part of U-M’s 2013 class.

Michigan coach John Beilein is limited by NCAA rules governing unsigned prospects — Hatch can’t sign his letter-of-intent until the fall of 2012 — but Beilein is keeping tabs on Hatch’s condition through the family.

The tragedy of the situation – Hatch had lost his brother, sister and mother in another private plane crash in 2003, which he and his father survived – has resonated around the world.

“It’s amazing,” Kline said. “I’d say all over the country, coaches have reached out. Coaching is a fraternity and they know and keep in touch with all that stuff. I’ve heard from coaches across the country that I do know and other coaches that read it. Even schools that tried to recruit Austin have called.”

Kline heard from Purdue, Indiana and Notre Dame, who all were interested in Hatch before he committed to U-M.

“They know what’s going on,” Kline said. “I’ve heard from other players that played for me at the college level. They called, they texted. One in Switzerland read it online.

“It will all help him to keep the fight. He’s a strong guy.”

Jeff Evans

Prior to the season, it was widely believed and accepted this season could be the last for the Michigan coach. However, he has won his first 3 games of the season, including 2 games against formidable out-of-conference opponents. The Wolverines will most likely win their fourth game today and be in a very good position to make the bowl season. It seems as though his seat is cooling, or at least it should be cooling because this is his 3rd year and his team is starting to turn the corner. What do you think? Has the seat for Michigan's Coach, Rich Rodriguez, cooled down?

Brian Johnson