With UConn's Paige Bueckers back, what are the biggest questions facing the Huskies?

The women's college basketball world received seismic news Thursday evening when UConn announced that reigning national player of the year Paige Bueckers has been cleared to return to game play, and will suit up for the seventh-ranked Huskies on Friday when they take on St. John's. Bueckers has missed the previous 19 games after suffering an anterior tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear on Dec. 5, which she underwent surgery to repair the following week.

Life without Bueckers was a bit rocky at the start for the Huskies, whose five regular-season losses are the program's most since the 2004-05 season. It took a few months, and six other rotation players missed time due to injury or illness in between, but the Huskies slowly but surely learned how to play without their star point guard. And even before her return was announced, they had started to put together some of their best basketball at the right time.

Heading into Friday's game in Hartford, Connecticut, we look at what Bueckers' return means for UConn and its championship goals.

The school did not disclose whether Bueckers is on a minutes restriction, but it seems likely that she is and that she'll come off the bench as she eases her way back, particularly with her conditioning. Nearly 12 weeks have passed since Bueckers last played in a game, and coach Geno Auriemma told reporters that while she had been doing individual workouts, Bueckers hadn't participated in team drills until Feb. 16. The Huskies shouldn't be in a position where they'll need to lean on Bueckers to contribute extensively right away anyway, as UConn's final two regular-season games — the Huskies host Providence on Sunday in Storrs, Connecticut — are against teams in the bottom half