Florida's 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux Makes College Basketball Debut
The moment Florida Gators fans eagerly anticipated finally arrived Thursday night. Olivier Rioux, standing an impressive 7-foot-9, stepped onto the court with about two minutes left in the game, marking his college basketball debut as the tallest player in college hoops.
Although his debut came in a rather anticlimactic setting—a 40-point victory over North Florida—it was a significant first step in his collegiate career. Gator fans enthusiastically celebrated Rioux's entry into the game.
“There went Olivier Rioux, all 7-foot-9 of him, to the scorer's table with about two minutes to play on Thursday night.”
Rioux did not record any statistics during his brief time on the court, serving more as a symbolic presence in the team’s solid win. The Gators, coming off a tough loss to No. 13 Arizona earlier in the season, dominated the game by scoring 52 points in each half, securing a 104-64 victory over the in-state Ospreys.
“They had opened the season with a stern test against No. 13 Arizona and lost, so coming back home to play the in-state but much lesser Ospreys was a good deal.”
Rioux had been with the team last year as a redshirt and national champion, famously cutting down a piece of the net after their championship win.
“Rioux was on campus last year, a national champion in his redshirt year, known most for cutting down his piece of the net from the ground.”
His debut marks the beginning of what Florida hopes will be a significant impact from their tallest player ever.
Author's summary: Olivier Rioux, the tallest college basketball player at 7-foot-9, made his debut in a commanding Florida Gators win, offering fans a glimpse of his potential future impact.