It all started with the Dougie.

With a freshman shimmying down the graduate student section in Cameron Indoor Stadium, exuding a blend of confidence, cockiness and above all, pure joy, the dance would become the early hallmark of the 2010-11 Blue Devils.

“It was just great to hear my name,” Kyrie Irving said that night. “I’m finally here, and my journey can actually begin to where I ultimately want to be.”

That “journey” got a jumpstart at the CBE Classic in Kansas City, where Duke snuck by Marquette before demolishing then-No. 4 Kansas State, 82-68, before a hostile crowd. Kyrie Irving recorded a combined 31 points and 13 assists in the Classic.

It was another 31-point performance, though, that put Irving in the national spotlight—and this time, he only needed one game. Back in Durham the next week, the freshman blew the lid off even the loftiest expectations against then-No. 6 Michigan State. Head coach Tom Izzo returned the cornerstone of the squad that had reached the 2010 Final Four in Kalin Lucas, alongside perimeter stars Korie Lucious and Durrell Summers, creating one of the most-hyped nonconference games Cameron Indoor Stadium had ever hosted. In fact, the Spartans were just one three-point loss to Connecticut in Maui away from their preseason No. 2 ranking.

On the largest stage of his young career, Irving surpassed his highest point total of the season, 17, in the first half alone, en route to 31 points, four assists and two steals while shooting 67 percent from the floor, plus 13-of-16 from the charity stripe. With Kyle Singler’s shots not falling—a harbinger of shooting struggles he would have later in the season—Irving’s performance came at a crucial time.

More important than just his own stat line, though, the freshman excelled at opening up space for the rest of his teammates, Mason Plumlee in particular. The sophomore flourished in his new starting role, taking advantage of Irving’s passes to post four double-digit scoring totals in his first eight games—more than his entire freshman year combined.

But then? The Toepacalypse.

At first, it was unclear how badly Irving had hurt his right big toe after he stubbed it on Matt Howard’s foot in an 82-70 win over Butler. Potential prognoses were tossed around every corner of the Web, hypothesizing either a stubbed toe or a torn ligament, and everything in between. In the midst of the debate, though, two things were clear.

First, nobody knew anything. The team kept the secret of Irving’s injury close to the vest for months. In fact, the final diagnosis was only known after head coach Mike Krzyzewski talked to media in the week leading up to the NCAA Tournament. Second, any attempt to replace Irving’s impact would have to emerge from the combination of several different Blue Devils.

Over the next few months, Krzyzewski tried every possible combination of supporting cast members for Singler and Nolan Smith. And while nothing could be done to match Irving, it gave Smith the opportunity to evolve from third wheel in the 2009-10 Big Three into a bonafide National Player of the Year candidate.

Tomorrow, check back for Part 2 of the men’s basketball season retrospective.