Florida’s 7-foot-9 center Rioux enters transfer portal
Olivier Rioux, the 7-foot-9 Florida center and the world's tallest basketball player, is transferring from Florida, with AP reporting the move on March 31, 2026.
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Gators' 7'9 Center Olivier Rioux Enters Transfer Portal, Eyes New Destinations
Florida's 7'9 center Olivier Rioux, the tallest player in March Madness history, has entered the NCAA transfer portal after two seasons with the Gators, with Purdue, Florida Atlantic and Arizona State listed as potential destinations for more playing time and development.
Iowa's Last-Second Upset Stuns No. 1 Florida, Sends Hawkeyes to Sweet 16
Iowa, a 9-seed, stunned defending champ Florida 73-72 on Alvaro Folgueiras' clutch corner 3 with 8.9 seconds left, earning a Sweet 16 berth in a win built by coach Ben McCollum's unlikely roster. The celebration featured Folgueiras embracing his mother Beatriz Campos and Cooper Koch's postgame Gator Chomp, underscoring the Hawkeyes' dream-turned-reality as they advance to face Nebraska in Houston.
Iowa Upsets Florida, Sparking Viral Display of Reporter Heartache
Ninth-seed Iowa stunned defending champion Florida 73-72 to move into the Sweet 16, snapping the Gators’ title bid. Florida reporter Talia Baia reacted with an emotional series of posts on X, calling the loss “100% worse than a breakup” as she reflected on her viral moments covering the team.
Tammi Reiss Embraces a Builder’s Mission as Florida’s New Coach
Tammi Reiss, a Virginia legend and experienced coach, has been hired to lead Florida’s women's basketball program after turning Rhode Island into a winner — guiding the Rams to a program-record win streak, an Atlantic 10 title and their first NCAA Tournament in 30 years — signaling a build-the-program mindset as she moves to a Power 4 program with strong backing from Florida leadership and peers alike.
Florida taps Tammi Reiss to lead the Gators women's basketball program
Florida named Tammi Reiss the 12th head coach of the Gators women's basketball program, tapping a three-time All-American and proven program-builder who led Rhode Island to its first NCAA Tournament in 30 years and has NCAA-level success as a player and coach at Virginia, Syracuse, and San Diego State.
Gators Hire Tammi Reiss to Lead Florida Women’s Basketball
Florida named Tammi Reiss as the head coach of its women's basketball program. Reiss, who led Rhode Island to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 30 years, has NCAA Tournament experience as a player and coach and has previously coached at San Diego State, Cal State Fullerton, and Syracuse before taking over Rhode Island in 2019.
Gators' Late-Game Gamble Ends Repeat Title Bid
Florida’s bid to repeat as NCAA champions collapsed in the final seconds when a controversial late-foul plan backfired as Iowa executed a game-winning sequence, culminating in a corner three by Folgueiras with 4.4 seconds left, ending the Gators’ title defense after a season defined by risky late-game decisions and execution lapses.
Iowa shocks No. 1 Florida with late 3 to seal NCAA upset
Top-seeded Florida's title defense ended in heartbreak as No. 9 Iowa rallied to a 73-72 win in the NCAA Tournament's second round, capped by a go-ahead 3 from Alvaro Folgueiras after a late inbounds miscue, denying Florida a final shot; the weekend also saw Kansas fall to St. John's and the Big Ten send six teams to the Sweet 16, underscoring another chaotic stretch of March Madness.
Gators Unleash a Circus-Style 59-Point Blowout in NCAA Tournament
Florida rolled to a 59-point win over Prairie View A&M in the NCAA Tournament, roaring out with an 18-0 run and finishing with a dominant 27-6 stretch, a blowout that marked the second-largest margin in tournament history. The spectacle was amplified by Florida’s ultra-tall lineup, including 7'9" Olivier Rioux and 7'1" Micah Handlogten, as the game delivered circus-like flair alongside the rout.
Lord Help Us Moment Sparks Viral Attention as Florida Dominates Prairie View A&M
In the NCAA Tournament first round, No. 16 seed Prairie View A&M was blown out by Florida 114-55 after coach Byron Smith quipped during a sideline interview that the Gators would need help from the Lord to keep dancing. Florida opened with an 18-0 run and led 60-21 at halftime, while Prairie View—which had earned its first NCAA tournament win by beating Lehigh in the First Four—could not keep pace, though the moment of humor from Smith went viral.
Florida's 7-foot-9 Giant Sparks March Madness with Electrifying Debut
Florida's 7-foot-9 center Rioux finally checked into the NCAA tournament game for the Gators in a dominant win over Prairie View A&M, grabbing an offensive rebound and dunking on his first meaningful touch as the crowd roared and teammates celebrated. The moment spotlighted Rioux's behind-the-scenes grind and the Gators' belief in their practice squad players, even as he remains a developmental piece focused on foot speed to contribute more in the future.
Rioux's 7-foot-9 March Madness debut makes Florida history
Florida's Olivier Rioux, the 7-foot-9 redshirt freshman, entered and scored in the Gators' 114-55 NCAA Tournament win over Prairie View A&M, becoming the tallest player in college basketball history and adding a memorable March Madness moment to his debut season (he entered with 1:54 left and dunked for his first points with 1:12 remaining).
Gators' 7-foot-9 Rioux makes NCAA history with late dunk
Florida's Olivier Rioux, at 7-foot-9, became the tallest player ever to appear in the NCAA Tournament, entering with 8 1/2 minutes left and adding a late put-back dunk in Florida's 114-55 win over Prairie View A&M. He finished with two rebounds and one assist in 1:54 of action, a milestone that highlights his development since redshirting last season and his ongoing presence on a very tall UF roster.
Florida Primed for Fast-Paced First-Round Victory Over Prairie View A&M
Florida is favored to handle Prairie View A&M in the first round, leveraging a faster tempo and proven scorers. The top bet given is Florida team total Over 95.5 points, supported by the Gators' scoring depth and a pace edge; expect prop focus on Alex Condon (points/rebounds/assists) and a potential blowout reflected in the spread.