Why Florida’s 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux isn’t playing in March Madness despite being super tall
Why Florida’s 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux isn’t playing in March Madness despite being super tall initially appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Olivier Rioux is unimaginable to overlook.
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The Florida Gators‘redshirt freshman middle is 7-foot-9. In different phrases, super tall, taller than just about any human any of us have ever seen both up shut or on our tv.
But due to that conspicuousness, it is also very clear to followers when Rioux isn’t really playing for Florida, which seems to be more often than not.
Rioux did not play a second on final season’s nationwide championship group, preserving his redshirt.
This 12 months, coming into the NCAA Tournament, he has appeared in 10 video games. Rioux has performed a complete of 14 minutes, made 2-of-3 discipline objectives and 1-of-2 free throws, totaled 5 factors and grabbed 4 rebounds whereas turning it over eleven and committing two fouls.
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Not essentially the most thrilling function ever for the 7-foot-9 man.
And actually, it is laborious to know if that may change.
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Why isn’t 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux playing in March Madness?
Rioux merely isn’t a talented sufficient basketball participant, or cellular sufficient, to benefit from his measurement on the highest ranges of DI hoops.
“He has neither the height, awareness, footwork, nor touch to keep up and meaningfully contribute on an SEC squad,” wrote the popular NCAA Buzzer Beaters account on X.
For what it is price, Florida additionally has a stacked frontcourt of a number of gamers who may find yourself in the NBA.
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Some may surprise if Rioux has an expert future simply due to his measurement.
First, although, he’ll have to seek out his manner onto the courtroom, whether or not that is at Florida or elsewhere. And evidently, that is simpler stated than accomplished, even for a 7-9 doubt.
