Florida Basketball's Olivier Rioux Sets NCAA Record
Florida basketball's redshirt freshman Olivier Rioux made history as the tallest player to ever participate in an NCAA game. Standing 7-foot-9, Rioux appeared in the Gators' 104-64 victory over North Florida, marking a landmark moment for Florida basketball.
A Historic Moment Overshadowing the Banner Unveiling
Although the home opener featured the unveiling of the Gators’ national championship banner, the attention shifted to Rioux’s appearance on the court. In the final minutes of the game, the Gator student section chanted for Rioux to enter, and head coach Todd Golden eventually obliged.
“Todd just looked at me, and I just (pretends to take shirt off) with my t-shirt.” – Olivier Rioux
Rioux described the experience as uplifting, highlighting the incredible support from fans and teammates. His entry with 2 minutes and 9 seconds left sparked cheers from the crowd of 10,065.
Reactions to the Record
“It’s another day, I guess.” – Olivier Rioux, on owning the record as tallest player
“Not something that I think that much about. I like the banner dropping before better. I'm happy for him that he got an opportunity to get out there tonight.” – Todd Golden, Florida head coach
Both Rioux and Golden expressed a humble attitude toward the milestone, focusing more on the team’s achievements and the moment's significance than personal records.
Author's summary: Olivier Rioux made NCAA history as the tallest player ever on the court, celebrated by fans and teammates during Florida’s decisive win, highlighting a memorable milestone in college basketball.