Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson pulls freshman Terriell Bradley aside for some instruction during a stoppage in play during their exhibition basketball game against Washburn, Sunday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks defeated the Ichabods, 78-58, and will open the season for real next Sunday against South Dakota. Tip off time is set for 2 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.

After two exhibition games, ready or not, the season has arrived for Kansas University’s women’s basketball team.

The Jayhawks will open the season against South Dakota at 2 p.m. today at Allen Fieldhouse.

KU beat Fort Hays State and Washburn University handily in its exhibition slate, but it wasn’t all positive, despite a veteran-laden team with four senior starters — Chelsea Gardner, Natalie Knight, Asia Boyd and Bunny Williams.

“We’ve got to mature and grow up quick here, and take some pride on the defensive end to be consistent and maintain focus, positioning, and pressure,” KU coach Bonnie Henrickson said last week after KU beat Washburn. “At times, pressure was better than it was a week ago, but that still has to get better on the ball.”

KU is also still working on finding a newcomer to provide solid play at point guard. Freshman Lauren Aldridge has played well while starting during the two exhibition contests, but the Jayhawks also have junior transfer Timeka O’Neal and freshman Terriell Bradley ready to contribute.

The Coyotes (1-0), who beat Drake University, 83-78, on Friday, earned an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament last year after winning the Summit League tournament. They return four starters from last season, including 5-foot-10 senior Nicole Seekamp, who averaged a team-best 15.5 points per game.

One thing the Jayhawks wish they saw more from exhibition opponents was 2-3 zone, as that’s expected to be the main defense for the Coyotes.

“We maybe saw 10 possessions of it,” Henrickson said. “We’re anticipating seeing that quite a bit. … It would have been good for us to live-play against it a little bit more.”