BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Tom Crean's hiring may finally let the Indiana players relax.

It also creates an all-too-familiar problem for them — another transition period.

This time, players are hoping Crean's arrival will not only end the tumult and turbulence that has overwhelmed the Hoosiers over the past six months but also will provide some long-term stability for the program.

"Finding a coach, it turned the page," forward Eli Holman said.

At least that's the hope.

Crean is now the third basketball coach at the school in less than two months and the fifth this decade.

The revolving door first opened in September 2000 when Bob Knight was fired. His successor, Mike Davis, left two years ago. When Davis' replacement, Kelvin Sampson, resigned amid an NCAA scandal in February, the school promoted Dan Dakich to interim coach. Now he's been replaced, too.

Along the way there have been disagreements, dissension and transfers, and the continual questions and constant speculation about who would lead the Hoosiers next season certainly took its toll.

"It didn't seem quick enough, it's been horrible for us," guard Jordan Crawford said. "I've been sitting back, waiting since the season was over."

Getting Crean was a surprise to most players.

Holman said he and his teammates had not even heard Crean's name mentioned in the torrent of rumors that swirled during the two-week coaching search. So between Crean's hiring Tuesday night and his official introduction Wednesday morning, they researched Crean's background.

"I guarantee some of the players were very excited about it," Holman said.

Indiana's players were not the only ones doing background checks.

Holman and Crawford both said that when Crean showed up for a team meeting Wednesday, he began telling stories about Indiana players — some of whom he had never even recruited.

If nothing else, it helped ease the tension between players who were upset about Sampson's resignation and who didn't want Dakich to be the head coach, even on an interim basis, and Crean.

"It was a good impression," Crawford said. "You can tell he's very excited and passionate."

It's only the beginning of the get-to-know-you rounds.

Crean said he intended to meet with the team a couple of times before leaving for San Antonio this weekend, where the Final Four is being held, and some players are eager to meet with Crean individually.

"I'm going to meet with him a couple times so he can get to know me and I can get to know him," Crawford said.

Crean also has an early opportunity to demonstrate how he will handle disciplinary matters.

Dakich kicked starting guards Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis off the team early Tuesday, before the Hoosiers had hired Crean.

Holman would prefer to see Bassett and Ellis reinstated, a decision athletic director Rick Greenspan said he would leave to Crean. Crawford said the players were told Crean would meet with both players.

"I love A.B.," Holman said. "When I came here he was actually the host on my visit. I love Armon, he and D.J. (White) were one of the big reasons I came, and just having an opportunity to play with those guys and getting an opportunity to talk to those guys a little bit, they're real good people."

Some players may look to Crean's handling of that issue to help them decide whether to return to Bloomington next season.

Others, however, are more concerned with enduring yet another coaching transition.

"It's getting able to be coached by him, which I think is going to be a big part for some of the players," Holman said. "He shows a lot of great passion for Indiana University, but I think everyone does. So I kind of want to see what he brings to the table."