7'9" Rioux Debuts as Tallest NCAA Player in Gators Win

Florida Gators redshirt freshman Olivier Rioux made history Thursday night by becoming the tallest player to ever step onto an NCAA basketball court during a 104-64 victory over North Florida at the O'Connell Center in Gainesville.

The 19-year-old Canadian center, who stands 7 feet 9 inches tall, entered the game with 2:09 remaining in the second half. He played the final two minutes without recording any points or rebounds, as North Florida's defense focused on keeping the ball away from him. Rioux's appearance surpassed the previous record held by players such as Paul Sturgess, Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol, all listed at 7 feet 7 inches. The crowd of 10,065 erupted in cheers, with chants of "We Want Ollie" echoing through the arena earlier in the game, prompting coach Todd Golden to finally sub him in.

Golden, who faced vocal demands from fans at halftime, acknowledged the pressure but emphasized the strategic timing. "Listen, it will happen. The time will come," he told reporters afterward. "I can be stubborn. I don't listen to direction very well at times, so when they're yelling at me to do it, it's kinda like, well, maybe I'll wait a little longer." With the game well...