The first big hurdle for Duke in dealing with Monique Currie's season-ending injury is the emotional one. With the media and coaches polls just having picked the Blue Devils No. 1, it's a little like suddenly getting punched in the stomach at your birthday party.

	Monique Currie averaged 14.3 points as a standout freshman.

The way Duke played the 39 minutes, 55 seconds Tuesday after Currie got hurt, though, showed the resolve of the team. Admittedly, it was just an exhibition, but the Blue Devils didn't play like it was.

The second hurdle is figuring out how to distribute what would have been Currie's minutes. But Duke has the advantage of depth this year, so everyone will share the load and no one has to pick it up all by herself. That said, Sheana Mosch and Michele Matyasovsky are more important than ever to Duke now. If they have the senior seasons they are capable of and improved sophomore Wynter Whitley performs as coach Gail Goestenkors expects, Duke should be fine.

Also, last season Duke went through losing two players suddenly -- both Rometra Craig and Crystal White quit the team in a 24-hour span -- while at the same time dealing with then-assistant coach Joanne Boyle's health scare because of a blood clot.

So adversity isn't new to the Blue Devils. With eight players, they reached last season's Final Four. Now, they've still got 11. Losing Currie for this season is a blow, certainly, but it's not something Duke can't overcome to compete for a national championship.

Also, if any team has to lose someone to an ACL, better it be now before the season begins. A team has more time to adjust to it, and -- equally important -- the injured player can redshirt and not lose a season of eligibility.

Mechelle Voepel of the Kansas City Star is a regular contributor to ESPN.com. She can be reached at mvoepel@kcstar.com.