Dozens of Michigan basketball alums stopped by Crisler Arena on Saturday morning for an indoor tailgate party.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

When Mark Hughes walked into Crisler Arena on Saturday, one thing stood out.

"It's really bright in here," said a laughing Hughes, a captain on Michigan basketball's 1989 national championship squad.

Hughes, along with dozens of other former Michigan basketball standouts, caught a glimpse of Crisler Arena's facelift for the first time Saturday during the program's annual alumni reunion tailgate.

Unlike years past, the annual football tailgate was held indoors, giving former players a look at the arena's new seating arrangement, scoreboard and floor.

Outside of being awed by the new facilities, former players said the upgrades were long overdue.

"This blows you away," said Butch Wade, a two-year starter under former coach Bill Frieder in 1984-85 and 1985-86. "This is Michigan, this is what Michigan's all about. It's about putting together a good quality program inside and out, and a good quality facility to go with it.

"Michigan takes a backseat to no one. It's always been that way, and now it seems like it's always going to be that way."

While the new arena, and eventually the new $23.2 million Player Development Center, were reason enough for former players to rejoice Saturday, the product that coach John Beilein and players put in the building in recent years has them even more excited.

After breaking through with the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 11 seasons in 2009, the Wolverines narrowly missed a Sweet Sixteen bid a year ago.

And with the new facilities now in place, Michigan's proud basketball alums expect that trend to continue.

"Compared to what we had, this was unbelievable," said Oliver Darden, who scored 993 points and pulled down 745 rebounds from 1963-66. "Michigan's a great school, with great athletes and they should have great facilities. And now, (the basketball program) has the type of facilities that first-class athletes should have.

"With these facilities, I hope now that we can attract that type of top-tier talent that you need. There are a lot of reasons for guys to go elsewhere, but I don't see why Michigan should lose any recruit to anybody considering the facilities and history we now have. Being a Michigan man, I want to see the best come here every year."

Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.