Basketball is a game of set-up and follow-through: setting up good shots and following through with the rebound. If they don't fall, setting up with a good starting line-up and following through with solid bench play, setting up good offense and following through with good defense.

Tonight as the Irish face off against the Syracuse Orange-women, set-up and follow-through will be all important.

Notre Dame set itself up nicely this weekend with a 64-57 win against No. 16 Virginia Tech. Now the Irish need to follow through with another victory.

"[The victory against Virginia Tech] gave us confidence," said head coach Muffet McGraw. "Every game we win gives us confidence."

But in order to follow-up on Saturday's victory, the Irish need to focus on their set-up. In recent games against Connecticut and Providence, the Irish starting line-up lacked focus early in the game. Any spark the Irish played with, they found on the bench. However, in Saturday's victory against the Hokies, the set-up players came through. Freshman Jackie Batteast and junior Alicia Ratay led the Irish charge and senior Ericka Haney found her rhythm.

"I think for us to win a game like that [Batteast and Ratay] really have to step up," McGraw said. "I think I was a little clearer on what I wanted from [Haney] and she responded."

The whole Irish line-up, starting players and bench players, will have to find a new set-up on defense. The Orangewomen often play a four-guard rotation that the Irish have yet to see this season. With a line-up like that, Batteast will find a new position on defense.

"Jackie has to work on playing a perimeter player," McGraw said. "She's been playing post players."

Setting up shots was not a problem for the Irish, but following through on the missed shots was. While the Irish dominated defensive boards on Saturday, they couldn't always find the ball after one of their own shots. With Batteast leading scoring outside, Notre Dame's leading rebounder can't get in position for a rebound.

"When Alicia shoots, Jackie has a chance of getting it, if Kelsey [Wicks]shoots we might get it, if Teresa [Borton] shoots we might get it," McGraw said. "But when Jackie shoots, unless she's right there shooting a lay-up and getting her own miss, we simply don't rebound as well."

In order to follow-up on missed shots, the Irish will need to really focus on their rebounds. A team that was out-rebounded in the Connec-ticut game recognized a need to put more energy into chasing the ball after it misses the rim.

"I think a lot of rebounding is just plain effort," McGraw said. "I mean, it is getting in position, but it's also a lot of effort."

But as far as set-up goes, the Irish still have the upper hand.

While Syracuse will come in with a different line-up than the Irish have faced before, the Orangewomen will still be coming into the home of the Irish.

In nine home games this season, the Irish are undefeated.

Maybe it's the home court crowd or maybe it's time to set-up at their own pace, but whatever it is, the Irish do seem to play better in the Joyce Center.

"I think the freshman, maybe they get in more of a routine [at home]," McGraw said. "They can come out and shoot when they want and they aren't dependent on when the bus gets there."

The Irish will set-up for game time at 7 p.m. at the Joyce Center.

Notes:

Jeneka Joyce, who sat out Saturday's game, will not play tonight due to a strained left Achilles' tendon. Allison Bustamante will again start in the point guard position.

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