Florida’s 7-foot-9 big man Olivier Rioux got one of the loudest ovations in the team’s blowout win in the NCAA Tournament’s first round, leading some fans to question why the redshirt freshman doesn’t play more often.
Rioux played the final minute-and-a-half in the win over Prairie View, setting an NCAA record as the tallest player to appear and score in a tournament game. While the moment drew a huge reaction from Gators fans in attendance, they may not get the chance to see him on the court again during the tournament.
Why Doesn’t Florida’s Olivier Rioux Play More?
Rioux gained fame during his high school years for his eye-opening highlight reels, showing a player who towered over opponents. Rioux committed to Florida and spent last season on the bench as the team won a national title.
As The Athletic’s Matt Baker noted, Rioux saw some limited playing time this year and set records nearly every time he touched the floor.
“Earlier this season, he became the tallest player to play in a college basketball game (Nov. 6 against North Florida), the tallest player to score in a game (Nov. 21 against Merrimack) and the tallest player to make a field goal in a game (a dunk against St. Francis on Dec. 17),” Baker wrote. “Over his 10 appearances before Friday, he scored 5 points and grabbed four boards over 14 minutes.”
So, why doesn’t the 7-foot-9 Rioux play more often? As Baker explained, the big man’s mobility was very limited when he arrived at Florida and remains limited despite some improvement.
“Rioux redshirted last season during Florida’s national championship run as he developed his game and 305-pound frame,” Baker wrote. “When he got to Gainesville, he ran the court in 12 seconds. Now, thanks to his bonus work after practices, it’s closer to 9.”
Teammates Praise Olivier Rioux
Rioux was able to get on the board in the team’s win over Prairie View, missing his first two shots before he corralled a rebound and dunked it before turning to run the floor back on defense.
Rioux said he acted immediately once the rebound got into his hands.
“I saw a wide-open dunk,” Rioux said.
Rioux had another viral moment in the game when A&M forward Hassane Diallo — who stands 6-foot-8 — marveled at the freshman’s size. Diallo asked Rioux his height, with a clip of the interaction garnering some viral attention on social media.
With Florida advancing to the round of 32 and another game on Sunday, Rioux’s teammates said they were happy for Rioux to get his big moment on Friday.
“It’s pretty unbelievable,” said Gators forward Alex Condon. “He’s a very tall bloke. He comes out there, and everyone’s chanting to get him the ball. He does a great job managing that pressure and taking the right shots.”
Given his limited playing time this season, Rioux may not get more playing time for Florida in however much further the No. 1 seed reaches. He has played only in blowout situations, which could be more limited after the win over the No. 16 seed on Friday.
Olivier Rioux: Why Florida’s 7-Foot-9 Freshman Doesn’t Play More