Olivier Rieu Makes History in March Madness Debut
Olivier Rieu, the tallest player in college basketball history, was a spectator as Florida pursued the national title last year. But this March Madness, he’s making headlines himself.
The 7-foot-9 redshirt freshman set a record once more on Friday night, contributing to No. 1 seed University of Florida’s dominant 114-55 win over No. 16 Prairie View A&M in the NCAA Tournament.
The crowd at Tampa’s Benchmark International Arena erupted when Rieu grabbed an offensive rebound and executed a dunk with just over a minute left in the game.
“It feels amazing,” Rieu shared.
Joining Gainesville for the 2024-25 season, Rieu generated significant buzz due to his height, although he had to sit out the previous season. Last year, after Florida claimed the national championship against Houston, his moment of cutting the net without a ladder became quite the talking point.
He made his presence known when he debuted last November, becoming the tallest player ever to play the sport, and then, shortly after, the tallest to score in a college game.
This season, despite limited playing time, Rieu ensured at least one memory from March Madness would be unforgettable.
As the game turned lopsided, fans chanted “We want Ollie,” with the score at 109-47 with under two minutes to go. In a light-hearted moment, broadcasters captured him towering over the 6-foot-8 Hassan Diallo.
Upon entering the game, Rieu initially missed a couple of shots, but then managed to score a crucial dunk. “I saw a wide-open dunk,” he recalled.
Teammates celebrated his success. “Watching him score was a joy for everyone,” said Florida center Ruben Chiniel. “Whenever we can get our teammates involved, we make it a priority because they work so hard, and it’s our job to help them shine.”
Looking ahead, Rieu may face his last game of the season as Florida is not expected to struggle against No. 9 Iowa. He expressed hope that these moments will shape him into a more capable player for the Gators.
“That’s very important, and I think we did that today,” Rieu stated.
