The status of senior point guard Matt Gibson will remain a "day to day" decision for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.

The Rainbow Warriors were without Gibson in Friday's 73-72 season-opening loss to San Diego. The starting point guard sat out with an injured left knee.

Hawai'i's next game is scheduled for Friday against Big Ten power Illinois.

"We'll see how it feels every day I get up in the morning," Gibson said. "I'm working hard in rehab, doing what I can to get better as fast as I can. It gets a little better every day, so hopefully I'll be ready for the next game."

The 'Bows certainly missed Gibson's presence on Friday.

After reviewing video of the game, Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said the 'Bows "didn't have a rhythm to the offense."

Hawai'i shot 38.5 percent from the field, including 30 percent from 3-point range.

"Little Matt, with his experience, knows how to get you in your offense," Nash said.

The 'Bows shifted forward Bobby Nash to point guard to start Friday's game, and then true freshman Kareem Nitoto finished the game as the point guard in his first collegiate experience.

"I thought Bobby did a good job of manning the position, but that's not his natural position," Bob Nash said. "We had to ease Kareem in there, but I thought once he got his jitters out of the way, he performed well and that's why we were able to make that run in the second half."

Nitoto finished with three points (on 1 of 10 shooting), four rebounds and three assists on Friday.

Gibson averaged 10.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game last season.

Nash said he will leave Gibson's status in the hands of UH's medical staff.

"We're on a journey, and the point is to get through the (Western Athletic Conference) season and be successful in the WAC season," Nash said. "We want to make sure we have healthy bodies for the WAC, and so I'm in no rush to push anybody right now.

"When the doctors and trainers say Little Matt is ready to go, we'll put him in there."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.