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Not often does a 6-foot-8 basketball player look small on the court, but that’s what the tallest college basketball player ever did Friday night.
Florida’s Olivier Rioux entered the game late in the team’s dominant 114-55 win over No. 16 Prairie View A&M at Benchmark International Arena, and at 7-foot-9, he floored his opponents with his height.
Prairie View A&M forward Hassane Diallo, who stands at 6-foot-8, a full foot shorter than Rioux, went viral for sizing up the towering 20-year-old when he entered the game. Rioux was the world’s tallest teenager before his birthday last month.
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Florida Gators center Olivier Rioux (32) and Prairie View A&M Panthers forward Hassane Diallo (11) look on during a first round match of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida on March 20, 2026. (Matt Pendleton/Imagn Images)
Rioux has been used sparingly throughout the year as he continues to develop, but has quickly become a fan favorite. Whenever the Gators are up late in games, the Florida crowd chants Rioux’s name to head coach Todd Golden, who wants to see the tall center in action.
Rioux sent the crowd into a frenzy when he checked into the match with about two minutes remaining. He sent them into even more hysteria when he slammed home a put-back dunk for his first career NCAA Tournament point as fans rained down “Oli! Oli!” chants.
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Florida Gators center Olivier Rioux (32) dunks the ball in the second half against the Prairie View A&M Panthers during a first round match of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida on March 20, 2026. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Florida’s victory was historic as the 59-point margin of victory was the second largest in NCAA Tournament history.
Prairie View A&M was down 30 points when head coach Byron Smith was asked by the TNT broadcast during a midgame interview what it would take to slow down Florida.
“We need some help from the Lord,” replied Smith.
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Florida Gators center Olivier Rioux (32) looks on during the second half against the Prairie View A&M Panthers during a first round match of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida on March 20, 2026. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Prairie View A&M didn’t end up getting help from above as the defending champions steamrolled into the second round.
No. 1 Florida will play No. 9 Iowa on Sunday at 7:10 PM ET, with Gator fans hoping for another chance to see Rioux in action.
