The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team may be without its starting point guard for its opening points of the season tonight.

Matt Gibson was not able to practice yesterday because of an injured left knee, and is being called "a game-time decision" for the Rainbow Warriors' season opener against San Diego tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"I fully expect him to be ready," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said.

Nash, however, did not want to discuss details of Gibson's status yesterday because of "medical stuff involved."

"It will be a game-time decision," Nash said. "That's the best answer to give you."

Gibson's status will be reviewed today. If he is cleared to play, Gibson will be the starting point guard, according to Nash.

"I think he's done enough to warrant that," Nash said.

Gibson, a 6-foot-5 senior, hurt his knee during Wednesday's practice. His left knee was wrapped in a brace yesterday, and he was walking with a limp.

He watched the first hour of yesterday's practice from courtside, then left to get treatment on his knee.

If Gibson is not cleared to play, true freshman Kareem Nitoto could get the start in his first collegiate game. Nitoto, who is listed at 6-2 and 185 pounds, played at San Leandro High (Calif.) last season.

"I'm ready. I don't have a choice but to be ready," Nitoto said. "Hopefully Matt will be ready to play. He's one of the toughest people I know. But it also gives me confidence knowing Coach Nash has faith in a freshman. A lot of freshmen don't get an opportunity like this, so I have to make the most of it if Matt is not ready."

Nash, however, declined to discuss a potential starting lineup without Gibson.

"I won't make any decision until I find out what (Gibson's) status will be (today)," he said.

Bobby Nash, the coach's son, also ran some plays as the point guard during yesterday's practice. Normally, the 6-7 Nash would be a starting forward.

"We have combinations that we can put out there," Bob Nash said. "I told all the guys they all have to be ready to play no matter what the situation."

In any case, five seniors are expected to get extensive playing time tonight: Nash, Riley Luettgerodt, Jared Dilinger, P.J. Owsley and Stephen Verwers.

Gibson's status means Bob Nash will be put to the test in his first game as head coach of the 'Bows.

Nash was an assistant/associate coach for the 'Bows for 26 years before taking over as head coach this season. He was the associate coach for the past 20 seasons under previous head coach Riley Wallace.

"In the past, I would just show up and have my specific duties to take care of," said Nash, 57. "Coach Wallace made all the decisions.

"This time, I'm making the decisions on a lot of different things, and I want to make sure I make the right call. So it's a little different feeling from years past."

Bobby Nash, who lives with his parents in East Honolulu, said he has noticed a change in his father from last season to this season.

"He actually does a lot more work at home now," Bobby said. "I hardly see him, to tell you the truth. He's always in his (home) office working on something. He's a workaholic — that hasn't changed. He's just doing even more now."

This week, Bob Nash has been working on a game plan for San Diego.

Like the 'Bows, the Toreros have a new head coach this season. Bill Grier is in his first season at USD.

Unlike Bob Nash, Grier is new to the USD program. He was an assistant at Gonzaga for 16 seasons prior to taking over the Toreros.

Because of that, Bob Nash and his staff have been scouting schemes from both San Diego and Gonzaga.

Hawai'i assistant coach Eran Ganot, who was in charge of scouting the Toreros, said: "The first game is always the toughest because you have to be alert for anything. But this one is even harder because you have a new coach, and we don't know if he's bringing in his old stuff or using some entirely new stuff."

Making it tougher, the Toreros have two all-conference players in center Gyno Pomare and point guard Brandon Johnson.

Pomare, a 6-8, 240-pound junior, averaged 14.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last season. Ganot said Pomare is similar to Ahmet Gueye, last season's starting center for UH.

"He's a big, strong guy, and he's active in the post," Ganot said. "We have to put a body on him at all times."

Johnson, a 6-foot junior, averaged 12.8 points and 4.8 assists per game last season.

"He has the combination of strength and quickness," Ganot said. "I think he makes the team go."

The Toreros finished 18-14 and in fifth place in the West Coast Conference last season. They were picked by the conference coaches to finish third this season.

"They're under new leadership, so it's hard to know what to expect from them," Bob Nash said. "But at the same time, they don't know what to expect from us."

Nash has kept some of the schemes from the Wallace playbook, but he has also installed several new looks.

"Some of the Xs and Os are similar to last year, but the atmosphere is different," Luettgerodt said. "I don't know how to describe it. You can tell this is Coach Nash's program, put it that way. They're calling it the Nash Era and we want to get it off to a good start."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.