In a 104–64 rout, the night’s loudest cheers came for the game’s biggest player.
The defending national champion Florida Gators opened their home schedule with a 104–64 rout of North Florida, but the defining moment wasn’t another three-pointer or dunk. It was the final two minutes, when Olivier “Ollie” Rioux, the 7-foot-9 sophomore center, entered the game and officially became the tallest player ever to appear in a Division I men’s basketball contest.
“Felt great,” Rioux said. “The support from everybody was amazing, even on the bench and even in the fans. I thank everybody [that] supported me, and I’m very grateful.”
The crowd’s roar said it all. When Rioux stood up to check in, fans began chanting his name, correctly, this game. “They got it right this time. Last year they messed it up,” he said with a grin. “Oliver or something?”
Head coach Todd Golden said the decision to play Rioux was both emotional and intentional.
“He’s put in a lot of great work and, to his credit, he’s kept a great attitude without getting a lot of reward in terms of playing time,” Golden said. “He knew our frontcourt depth was going to limit his chances, but he kept grinding. I thought it was a good opportunity to get him out there and get his first college experience. I think he was pretty excited.”
Golden added that he wanted Rioux’s debut to be meaningful, not just symbolic. “There’s a time with Ollie, for right now, when I put him in the game, I’m not going to take him back out,” he explained. “I wanted to make sure he was in a position where he could finish the game and not get fatigued. Two or three minutes is probably the most he can go right now, so that was kind of the decision and why we waited so long.”
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For teammates like Micah Handlogten, it was a special moment to witness.
“So much fun,” Handlogten said. “When he was checking into the game, I kind of stopped him and said, ‘Play with confidence. You’ve worked your butt off for two years now to get to this spot. Now’s your moment. This is your time to shine.’ Seeing him out there with a smile on his face was really great to see.”
Rioux admitted there were nerves, but he handled it with the same calm he’s shown in two patient years of waiting. “Yeah, I was…but it’s part of the game, and I think I handled it well.”
Golden said the staff and team were simply proud to share the moment.
“Just to be part of that moment, you know…cool, I guess,” he said. “Not something that I think that much about. I liked the banner dropping before better. But I’m happy for him that he got the opportunity to get out there tonight.”
In a building that now showcases the Gators’ latest national championship banner, it was Rioux’s two minutes that stole the night, and created a moment no one in Gainesville will forget.
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