The Florida Gators and head coach Todd Golden were unable to accomplish their goal of winning their second straight National Championship this season.
After entering the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed with a clear path to winning a second title in a row, the Gators started off with a dominant 114-55 win in the first round over No. 16 Prairie View. Unfortunately, their journey came to an end in the Round of 32 against the Iowa Hawkeyes by a final score of 73-72.
Entering the offseason, there is some uncertainty surrounding the Florida basketball program.
Golden has instantly emerged as a top potential candidate for the North Carolina coaching job. Following the Tar Heels’ decision to part ways with Hubert Davis, Golden could find himself a prime candidate to take over one of the top programs in college basketball.
On Tuesday morning, the Gators also received some bad news about the future of viral 7-foot-9 center Olivier Rioux.
Florida Set to Lose Olivier Rioux to the NCAA Transfer Portal
According to a report from Joe Tipton of On3 Sports, Rioux has decided to enter the transfer portal. He is poised to leave the Florida basketball program.
“Florida 7-foot-9 center Olivier Rioux plans to enter the @TransferPortal , a source tells @On3,” Tipton wrote on X.
Rioux has become a very popular name in the world of college basketball. He stands in at 7-foot-9 and has drawn a lot of eyes due to his height. However, his production on the court has not come close to equalling the level of attention he has received.
What Olivier Rioux Brings to the Court at 7-Foot-9
During the 2025-26 college basketball season with the Gators, Rioux played in 11 games. He scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds all year long.
Basically, at this point in his career, Rioux simply brings height. He has yet to prove that he can play at a high level on the court. That is likely what he is pursuing by entering the transfer portal.
Plenty of teams around the country could have interest in taking a flier on such a tall center. He’ll have plenty of offers in the transfer portal.
That being said, the Florida basketball program has questions that need to be answered. Will Golden return for another year next season? Should he get hired elsewhere, the Gators will have to move quickly to remain a contender for the 2026-27 season.
Florida Gators, Todd Golden Land Bad News Regarding 7-Foot-9 Center