Florida’s Olivier Rioux Stands Tall in NCAA Tournament Win

It’s a rare sight when a 6-foot-8 basketball player seems to shrink on the court, but that’s exactly what happened during a recent game featuring the tallest college player ever, Olivier Rioux. Standing at a staggering 7 feet, 9 inches, he made his presence felt during Florida’s overwhelming 114-55 victory at Benchmark International Arena.

In contrast to Rioux, Prairie View A&M’s Hasan Diallo, at 6 feet 8 inches, appeared noticeably shorter. Even though Diallo is a solid player, his height really stood out against that of the towering Rioux, who, until last month, held the title of the world’s tallest teenager.

Throughout the season, Rioux had seen limited action, likely due to his continuing growth, yet he quickly won over fans. Whenever the Gators secured a comfortable lead, the crowd would chant for Rioux, eager to see him in action under head coach Todd Golden.

Finally, with about two minutes to go, Rioux entered the game, sending the audience into a frenzy. They cheered even louder when he scored his first points in an NCAA Tournament with a thrilling putback dunk, prompting chants of “Oli! Oli!” from the excited fans.

Florida’s monumental win, marked by a 59-point lead, was also notably the second-largest victory margin in NCAA Tournament history.

During a midgame interview, Prairie View A&M head coach Byron Smith, facing a 30-point deficit, humorously remarked that he could use “the Lord’s help” to slow down Florida.

Ultimately, the day ended with no divine intervention, as the defending champions cruised comfortably into the next round. Florida, now a No. 1 seed, will take on No. 9 Iowa on Sunday at 7:10 p.m. ET, and fans will undoubtedly be hoping for more moments featuring Rioux.