Florida's 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux finally makes his college basketball debut
It was the moment Florida Gators fans had been waiting for. With about two minutes left in Thursday’s game, Olivier Rioux, standing 7 feet 9 inches tall, stepped up to the scorer’s table for his long-awaited college debut.
Though the debut came during a 40-point blowout win over North Florida, it still marked an important milestone. The Gator faithful erupted in excitement as Rioux entered the game.
Gator fans went wild for Olivier Rioux checking into the game 🐊 (via @SECNetwork)
Rioux played briefly but did not log any official statistics in his two minutes on the court. His appearance symbolized the closing moment of a dominant performance, a well-earned “victory cigar” for the team.
Florida had opened the season with a tough matchup against No. 13 Arizona, losing that contest. Returning home to face the in-state Ospreys provided a smoother challenge, which the defending national champions handled with ease. The Gators scored 52 points in each half, finishing with a commanding 104–64 win.
Rioux, who spent last season as a redshirt and celebrated the national title by cutting his piece of the net, finally stepped onto the floor as an active player — a sign of new beginnings for the towering center.
Author’s Summary
Olivier Rioux, the tallest player in college basketball, made a short but highly anticipated debut for the Florida Gators during their 104–64 victory over North Florida.