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Last October a university investigation showed Sampson and his staff made more than 100 impermissible phone calls while still on probation for a similar phone-call scandal during his tenure at Oklahoma.
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While Indiana officials contended Sampson's violations were secondary, the NCAA accused Sampson of five major infractions in February. On Feb. 22, Sampson accepted a $750,000 buyout.
Interim coach Dan Dakich replaced Sampson, then went 3-4 during the final month of the season.
Hours before Crean was hired as coach in April, Dakich kicked starting guards Armon Basset and Jamarcus Ellis off the team for missing an appointment and then failing to show up to run laps as part of their punishment.
Crean has not yet said whether he will reinstate them.
If Bassett and Ellis do not return, Crean will be replacing five starters from a team that went 25-8 and lost to Arkansas in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Big Ten freshman of the year Eric Gordon has declared he will enter the NBA draft and does not plan to withdraw, and starting forwards D.J. White, the Big Ten player of the year, and Lance Stemler have run out of eligibility.
The Hoosiers lost their top two recruits for next season -- forward Devin Ebanks and guard Terrell Holloway -- who were granted their release after Sampson resigned in February.
Crean has four recruits signed for next season, including guard Nick Williams, who initially signed to play for him at Marquette.
