Josh Hairston, who averaged 2.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, underwent surgery Tuesday. Credit: STEVE CANNON/AP

Duke reserve forward Josh Hairston underwent successful surgery to repair ligaments in his right thumb, the school announced in a release Tuesday. He is expected to be sidelined 6-8 weeks.

Hairston tore the ligaments leading up to Duke's Feb. 16, 83-81 loss at Maryland. He posted 11 points, tied for his season-high (he had 11 in the Blue Devils' next game, at Virginia Tech). He didn't miss any games as a result of the injury.

Josh Hairston is doubtful for the N.C. State game due to an infection in his right arm. Credit: STEVE CANNON/AP

Duke reserve forward Josh Hairston, who has an infection in his right arm, is "doubtful" for Thursday's game against N.C. State, the school said Wednesday. Hairston cut his arm against Jan. 30 at Wake Forest and was able to play last Saturday at Florida State, but the infection became problematic in the past few days. His arm is currently in a sling.

Hairston has averaged 15.4 minutes per game through Duke's ACC slate, and he averages 2.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game in that same span. It's his minutes that will be most missed, as Duke's frontcourt depth was already thin due to Ryan Kelly's right foot injury. Amile Jefferson has developed nicely since the Jan. 12 loss at N.C. State, but, should he get into foul trouble, Duke doesn't have another proven option.

Ryan Kelly, dressed in street clothes, is out indefinitely. Amile Jefferson, two down on his right, is probably Duke's best option at replacing him. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

DURHAM—Remember when Duke opened its season with 15 straight victories, including three wins over top-5 opponents?

That’s all in the past now, as one of the key components to that early run, Ryan Kelly is out indefinitely with a foot injury. Duke is a markedly different team without him.

“This is a new team,” assistant coach Steve Wojciechowski said on his weekly radio show Monday. “The team went 15-0 was the team that had Ryan Kelly. The team without Ryan Kelly is 0-1. And so, the group that is healthy has to figure out how we win.”

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski thought Seth Curry was the difference-maker for Duke in its win over Kentucky. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

ATLANTA—It was a matchup with March Madness-level intensity. And here's a fittingly in-depth analysis from yours truly: 

First: the game story from No. 9 Duke's 75-68 win over No. 3 Kentucky and the full story behind John Calipari's comments on Duke flopping at halftime.

***Duke needs all three of its seniors to be successful.

The trio of Mason Plumlee, Ryan Kelly and Seth Curry is greater than the sum of its individual parts. That’s not to say that, as individuals, they’re not good, but the three of them clicking on the court will be necessary for future Duke success.

ATLANTA -- Thanks to a late turnover by Virginia Tech, Duke escaped with a narrow win Friday night, but the 60-56 win raised as many questions as it answered for the Blue Devils.

Namely, who knew Ryan Kelly was so important to Duke?

Sure, the 6-foot-10 forward from Raleigh can stretch defenses with his 3-point shooting ability, and he's averaging 11.8 points and 5.4 rebounds, but it turns out his mere presence in Duke’s forward rotation is absolutely and unquestionably essential. The rest of it is a bonus.

A couple bits of news came out of Duke's media availability Thursday ahead of Saturday's game against North Carolina:

First, the Blue Devils aren't sure if Josh Hairston will be available for Saturday's game, although the sophomore forward sounds like he's doing better than he was ahead of Tuesday's game against Wake Forest.

“Josh is going to practice today," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said before practice Thursday. "He’s doing a lot better."

DURHAM —If you're into ogling, keep an eye trained behind the Duke bench during the Blue-White scrimmage starting at 1 p.m. You'll see the future of Duke basketball as Duke hosts all four of its recruiting commitments in its next two incoming classes.

Forwards Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee from the 2009 class and combo guard Tyler Thornton and forward Josh Hairston from the 2010 class will be taking in annual intrasquad scrimmage.

Also, small forward Harrison Barnes, a top five prospect in the 2010 class being recruited by, well, everyone, will visit Duke next weekend when the Blue Devils hosts Virginia Union at 1 p.m. in their first exhibition game of the preseason.