Florida's 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux Makes College Basketball Debut
It was the moment Florida Gators fans had eagerly awaited. Olivier Rioux, standing 7-foot-9, stepped onto the court with about two minutes left in the game on Thursday night, marking his college basketball debut.
The debut came in a game that was already decided, with the Gators leading by 40 points against North Florida. Though anticlimactic, it represented the start of Rioux's collegiate career.
Gator fans went WILD for Olivier Rioux checking into the game 🐊 (via @SECNetwork)
Rioux didn't record any stats during his brief time on the floor, serving primarily as a celebratory presence in a vital win for the Gators. After opening the season with a tough loss to No. 13 Arizona, returning home to face the less formidable in-state Ospreys provided a chance to secure a convincing victory.
The defending national champions dominated, scoring 52 points in each half and winning 104-64.
Rioux was on campus last year as a redshirt and national champion, best remembered for cutting down his piece of the net from the floor.
Author's summary: Olivier Rioux, the tallest player in college basketball, made his debut for Florida in a decisive win after spending last year as a redshirt national champion.
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