Not often does a 6-foot-8 basketball player look small on the court, but the tallest college basketball player ever towered over one such player Friday night.
Rioux has played sparingly throughout the year as he continues to develop but has become a fan favorite in short order. Whenever the Gators are up big late in games, the Florida crowd chants Rioux’s name at head coach Todd Golden, hoping to see the tall center in action.
Rioux sent the crowd into a frenzy when he checked into the game with about two minutes left. He sent them into even further hysteria when he slammed home a put-back dunk for his first career NCAA tournament points as fans chanted "Oli! Oli!"
Florida’s victory was historic, the 59-point margin of victory 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," Smith replied.
Prairie View A&M did not get any help from above, and the defending champions steamrolled their way into the second round.
No. 1 Florida will play No. 9 Iowa Sunday at 7:10 p.m. ET, and Gator fans hope for another chance to see Rioux in action.
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