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Making A Point
If, in fact, junior Justin Joyner does not play in 2008-09, junior Paul Roemer could begin the season as the Gauchos' starting point guard. Whether he starts or comes off of the bench, Roemer will be a vital player for UCSB. He has earned a reputation as a tough, hard-nosed player, and his improvement between his freshman and sophomore seasons was significant. If he can approach the same level of progress in his junior season, Roemer will become an even more valuable commodity.
Mr. Dependable II
Perhaps it's a De La Salle High School thing, but like his former prep teammate Justin Joyner, Roemer was pretty sure-handed for UCSB in 2008-09. Of the eight players on the Gauchos' roster who logged 400 or more minutes last season, just three had more assists than turnovers. Roemer, along with Joyner and Nedim Pajevic, achieved the feat. After having 13 assists and 13 turnovers as a freshman, the Martinez, Calif., native had 54 assists and just 38 turnovers as a sophomore, a 1.4-to-1.0 assist to turnover ratio, the second best on the team.
A Reserve, From Start To Finish
Roemer achieved on thing in 2008-09 that no other UCSB player can claim. He was the only Gaucho to come off the bench in all 32 games. There were three players who started all 32 games and two others who started 31, but nobody else came off the bench in every game. The only player close to Roemer was forward Beau Gibb. Gibb played in 29 of 32 games, coming off the bench in all 29.
Getting Offensive
While he averaged just 2.3 points per game for the season, Roemer did have a couple of offensive outbursts. In the season-opener against Northwestern State, he scored 10 points, making 4-of-5 shots overall and both of his three-point attempts. Roemer's second scoring eruption came on the road against UC Irvine when he fueled a second half comeback, finishing with a career-high 12 points. In the game against the Anteaters, he made a career-best 4-of-5 three-point attempts.
The Sultan Of Swat
One look at Roemer's stat line in 2007-08 and nothing really jumps out. Sure, he had a solid assist to turnover ration, and yeah he was the only player to come off the bench in all 32 games, but none of his statistics leap off the page. A closer look, however reveals a bit more. Roemer finished the season as the team's fourth-best shot blocker, finishing with eight. While eight blocked shots won't get him into the record books, it is a significant achievement for a six-foot guard who averaged 15.6 minutes per game. The top three shot blockers for UCSB in 2007-08, Ivan Elliott, Nedim Pajevic, and Chris Devine, are each at least 6-foot-8, and each played at least 596 minutes. Roemer actually had a pair of multi-block games, going for two in wins over Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside.
Notes
2008-09
Junior Paul Roemer should see increased playing time at both backcourt positions in 2008-09...Because of the injury to his former high school teammate Justin Joyner, Roemer's time at the point will almost certainly expand...A hard-nosed and tough player, his improvement from his freshman to sophomore seasons was significant, and the UCSB coaches hope for that same type of progress in his junior campaign.
2007-08
Roemer played at both the off guard and point guard spots as a sophomore...Improved dramatically between his freshman and sophomore seasons...In 2007-08, he played in all 32 games, averaging 15.6 minutes off the bench...Logged 10 or more minutes in 30 of 32 games and 15 or more 19 times...Contributed 2.3 points, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 rebounds per game...Added 26 steals to his resumé...Poured in a high of 12 points at UC Irvine, making a career-best 4-of-5 shots from three-point range...Tallied 10 points in the season opener against Northwestern State, draining both of his three-point attempts...Roemer scored five or more points six times, but did so just once in his last 15 games...After making just three three-pointers as a freshman, he made 12 as a sophomore...Chipped in a career high five assists in a victory over Cal Poly...Had four assists in games against Northwestern State, UC Davis and Utah State...Had two or more assists in 17 games...Came up with a high of three steals at North Carolina...Roemer had two or more steals seven times.
2006-07
As a walk-on freshman, Roemer played in 16 games for a total of 132 minutes...Averaged 1.6 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game...He also had nine steals, the seventh highest total on the team...Tallied six points at San Diego...Posted a five-point game at Long Beach State...Roemer scored just two points in his final six appearances, a total of 35 minutes...Played a season-high 20 minutes against Eastern Washington and had a best of three assists in the game...Had three other games of two assists...Made nine of his first 18 field goal attempts, but finished the year by hitting just two of his final nine...While Roemer made a trio of three-pointers on the year, he made one in each of his first two appearances.
High School
Attended De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., where he was a teammate of another current UCSB player, Justin Joyner...Averaged 8.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game as De La Salle won the California State Division I championship in 2005-06...Roemer also made 40% of his three-point field goal attempts and 78% of his free throws...Scored his career-high 19 points against Serra High School during his senior season...In addition to the 2005-06 California State title, during Roemer's time at the school De La Salle was a CIF North Coast Section semifinalist in 2004-05 and a California State Division I runner-up in 2003-04...Played for Frank Allocco, Sr. at De La Salle.
Personal
Paul Joseph Roemer was born September 20, 1987 in Oakland, Calif....Graduated with High Honors from De La Salle High School...His most memorable moment in sports was his high school's run to the 2005-06 California State Division I championship...His favorite athletes include Steve Nash, Frank Allocco, Jr., and Michael Jordan...Enjoys watching SportsCenter and MTV...Roemer's hobbies include surfing, boating, wakeboarding, kneeboarding and tubing...Braveheart and Friday Night Lights are his favorite movies...The son of John and Paula Roemer...Geography major.
