BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — It's up to coach Tom Crean to pick up the pieces of the Indiana basketball program after months of staggering challenges marked by the recruiting scandal under former coach Kelvin Sampson.

But Crean believes the pieces are there to build new success.

The problems didn't stop when Sampson resigned in February or when Crean took over in April. Most recently, the NCAA accused Indiana of failing to monitor the basketball program and athletic director Rick Greenspan announced he'll step down at the end of 2008.

And as Indiana deals with self-imposed penalties, it still is awaiting the NCAA's decision on the allegations against Sampson.

On top of all that, the team has just one scholarship player remaining from last season.

But Crean said things have been looking up since he took the job three months ago.

"It's amazing how many things have gone on inside of that three months," he said Tuesday. "The most important thing has been to try to help people understand that there's a perception, and then there's a reality to everything that's going on at Indiana. We keep looking at what it really is. It's a great place."

Crean has had to recruit virtually an entire team, but he said the group has potential. Guard Malik Story, a 6-foot-5 guard who originally committed to Southern Cal, was a steal, he said. Story averaged 14.7 points last season at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia.

"To get someone of Malik's ability this late in the year is really exciting for all of us," Crean said. "He is a proven winner who knows how to win championships, and has improved a great deal over the last few years. He has always proven to be someone that plays at a high level, that wins, and that gets better."

Crean said Nick Williams, a 6-4, 200-pound guard from Alabama who also plays forward, will be important because of his versatility. Crean expects him to challenge for the team rebounding lead.

"We're going to have to be careful with not wearing him out, because it'll be real easy to play him a lot of quality minutes," Crean said.

Crean also likes Tijan Jobe, a 7-foot, 255-pound center from Gambia who can reach 9 feet, 4 inches without jumping.

Jeremiah Rivers, a guard who transferred from Georgetown, won't be able to play until next season. The son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers played in the Final Four in 2007.

Others players Crean has signed are forward Tom Pritchard and guards Verdell Jones III, Matt Roth and Devan Dumes. Crean said it's a balanced group with no superstars.

"We don't have anybody that's above and beyond the system or what we're trying to get done right now. It's going to have to be a very balanced unit. We know we're going to have to play bigger than our size and we know we're going to have to play smarter than our experience."

When Crean went looking for players, he sought talent and character.

"We tried to recruit people that had some courage, that were competitive, that we could try to get across that understanding of what it takes to play at Indiana — the responsibility that goes with that, the standards that go with that."

Kyle Taber is the only returning scholarship player. The 6-7 senior forward averaged 1.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game last season, and Crean expects him to develop into a leader.

"It's important that he's not afraid to tell the players the way things are, that he's not afraid to hold them accountable, then he goes out and competes as hard as anyone."

The lack of size will force Crean to implement an up-tempo style. He wants to pressure the ball and teach man-to-man defense, but recognizes that until depth develops and he finds some size, he may have to implement some zone.

"I look at this team and think we really don't want to be in a position where we're coming out fighting possession-by-possession and taking time off the clock and trying to win 50-48," he said. "That's not what how we're going to play, and that's not what we're trying to sell. We're trying to get this thing moving."

Crean said he's still seeking a big man and could either look to the junior college ranks or wait until next year and plan for the long term.

A focus heading into the fall will be finding ways to help Indiana fans become familiar with the new Hoosiers.

"We're going to have to do things where we open up workouts," Crean said. "I know we'll want to open up to where we scrimmage in front of the fans before our exhibition games."

Crean said he tries not to dwell on the negative things that are said about the school.

"The program is strong," he said. "As much as people want to try to knock it down, they can't. We have a program that has really never lost its luster, and I hope it never does on our watch."