Trending Now - Florida's Olivier Rioux, 7'9", Makes NCAA History in March Madness

WHO:

Olivier Rioux, Florida Gators center

Hassane Diallo, Prairie View A&M Panthers forward

Byron Smith, Prairie View A&M head coach

Rueben Chinyelu, Florida Gators teammate

Alex Condon, Florida Gators forward

Olivier Rioux, Florida Gators center

Hassane Diallo, Prairie View A&M Panthers forward

Todd Golden, Florida Gators head coach

Byron Smith, Prairie View A&M head coach

Ken Kirkley, Florida supporter

Rueben Chinyelu, Florida Gators teammate

Alex Condon, Florida Gators forward

WHAT:

Rioux entered the game with 1:54 remaining and scored his first NCAA tournament points with a put-back dunk.

Rioux's dunk occurred with 1:12 left in the game.

The crowd erupted with chants of "Oli! Oli!" after Rioux's dunk.

Rioux stated, "It feels amazing" after scoring his first points in the NCAA tournament.

Rioux's final stat line included two rebounds, one assist, and one dunk.

Olivier Rioux entered the game with 1:54 remaining and scored his first NCAA tournament points with a put-back dunk.

Rioux's dunk occurred with 1:12 left in the game.

The crowd at Benchmark International Arena was reported to be 20,112 during the game.

Rioux's final stat line included two rebounds, one assist, and one dunk, contributing to Florida's 114-55 victory.

Olivier Rioux became the tallest player ever to appear in an NCAA Tournament game at 7-foot-9.

Florida Gators won against Prairie View A&M with a score of 114-55.

The victory margin of 59 points is the second-largest in NCAA tournament history.

Rioux scored his first career NCAA tournament points with a put-back dunk.

Rioux's final stat line included two rebounds, one assist, and one dunk.

WHERE:

Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, Florida

WHEN:

The game took place on March 20th, 2026.

Rioux was 20 years old at the time of the game.

Rioux was the world’s tallest teenager before his birthday in February 2026.

WHY:

Fans chanted "We want Ollie" as Florida led significantly in the game, demonstrating their desire to see Rioux play.

Byron Smith, Prairie View A&M head coach, stated during a midgame interview, "We need some help from the Lord" when asked what it would take to slow down Florida.

Fans chanted "We want Ollie" as Florida led significantly in the game, demonstrating their desire to see Rioux play.

Florida Gators fans chanted for Rioux to enter the game as they were leading significantly.

Rioux redshirted the previous season to develop his game during Florida's national championship run.

HOW:

Rioux trained at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, to improve his basketball skills.

Rioux improved his running time from 12 seconds to closer to 9 seconds for the court.

Rioux's teammates, including Rueben Chinyelu, expressed their excitement about his performance, highlighting the enjoyment of seeing him score. Chinyelu stated, "Just me seeing him being able to step up there, go in there, dunk the ball, make points, it’s really — you could see everybody enjoyed it."

Rioux trained at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, to improve his basketball skills.

He improved his running time from 12 seconds to closer to 9 seconds for the court.

(UPDATED March 22, 2026 01:34 UTC)

In an exciting NCAA tournament game on March 20, 2026, Florida Gators center Olivier Rioux made a memorable entrance with just 1:54 left on the clock, scoring his first tournament points with a thrilling put-back dunk that sent the crowd into a frenzy with chants of "Oli! Oli!" After the game, Rioux expressed his joy, saying, "It feels amazing," while finishing with two rebounds, one assist, and that unforgettable dunk, as fans had eagerly called for him to play during Florida's dominant performance.

(UPDATED March 21, 2026 23:01 UTC)

In a thrilling moment during Florida's dominant 114 to 55 victory, Olivier Rioux entered the game with just under two minutes left and scored his first NCAA tournament points with an impressive put-back dunk, much to the delight of the 20,112 fans at Benchmark International Arena. The crowd had been chanting "We want Ollie" as Florida built a significant lead, showcasing their eagerness to see Rioux in action. His final stats included two rebounds, one assist, and that memorable dunk, with teammates like Rueben Chinyelu expressing their excitement, saying it was a joy to see Rioux step up and score.

(UPDATED March 21, 2026 17:06 UTC)

In a historic moment for college basketball, Olivier Rioux made his NCAA Tournament debut as the tallest player ever at 7-foot-9, helping the Florida Gators secure a dominant victory over Prairie View A&M with a score of 114 to 55. Rioux, who scored his first tournament points with a put-back dunk, finished the game with two rebounds, one assist, and one dunk, contributing to a victory margin of 59 points, the second-largest in NCAA tournament history. The game took place at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, on March 20, 2026, where excited Gators fans cheered for Rioux to enter the game after he redshirted last season to develop his skills.