GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Todd Golden had people yelling at him at halftime Thursday night to get 7-foot-9 center Olivier Rioux in the game.
Golden relented with 2:09 to play — and made history in the process — after chants of “We Want Ollie” swept through the O’Connell Center.
Rioux became the tallest person to ever play college basketball when he made his debut in a 104-64 victory over North Florida. Rioux, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman from Canada and the world’s tallest teenager, drew so much attention from the Ospreys that he didn’t even touch the ball.
“It felt great,” Rioux said. “The support from everybody was amazing, even on the bench and even the fans. I think everybody supported me. I’m very grateful.”
When asked about making history, Rioux quipped: “It’s ano

WEHT/WTVW Sports
ESPN
Chicago Tribune
Essentiallysports
KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas Sports
KPAX
The Advocate
Clutch Points NBA
Newsday
AlterNet
OK Magazine
US Magazine Entertainment