.jpg)
2 hours ago
3
The roar came first. “Ollie. Ollie.” Then the finish.
Two hands. Clean. Emphatic.
“It was really amazing,” Rioux said. “It felt really good.”
Florida’s 114–55 win against Prairie View A&M was already decided. But this moment was not.
“We were waiting for that,” RJ Godfrey said.
Godfrey did not hesitate. “It’s rewarding when everyone get those chances,” he said. “They help us in practice…they prepare us.”
And when Rioux scored? “It’s always so fun when Ollie scores because the whole crowd goes crazy and the bench goes crazy,” Godfrey said. “It’s pretty special.”
More: AJ Dybantsa’s comments raises eyebrows about what’s next
For Alex Condon, the message was simpler.“He’s a very valued member of our team.”
For Rueben Chinyelu, it went deeper. “It’s just a great time being with this guy…trying to get each other better,” he said. “Whatever time, seconds he gets, cherish that.”
Chinyelu paused, then added what the outside never sees. “You guys don’t see behind the scenes. They get ready…they’re getting us ready.”
Rioux’s answer, when asked about his development, was just as direct.
“I would say running.” That was it. No elaboration. No need. But his journey stretches beyond practice gyms.
Rioux has represented Canada at the U19 level, most recently competing at the FIBA World Cup in Switzerland where Canada finished fifth. He also previously helped Canada earn a bronze medal on the international stage.
“It’s my sixth year representing Canada,” Rioux said. “I got a good experience.”
More: March Madness: NCAA tournament should expand to 80 or 96 teams or revert to 64
And the goal is clear. “I want to represent my country no matter what,” he said. “Whether it’s FIBA or Olympics…I like it a lot.”
For Thomas Haugh, the moment fit the bigger picture. “To be able to get guys like CJ and Alex in there…a ton of playing time,” Haugh said. “That’s huge for us.”
After an early push, the adjustment was immediate.
“No threes,” Haugh said. “Make them beat us inside.”
And once Florida locked in? “We was able to take that first punch and regroup,” he said.
Then came the part that mattered most to him.
“I think that’s something that doesn’t get talked about enough our bench,” Haugh said. “Being able to bring guys in like that has been huge.”
More: Why Bryce James has already done something LeBron and Bronny never did
When Rioux got his chance, Haugh saw it like everyone else.
“He’s a crowd favorite,” he said. “It’s so fun to see him go out there…he’s such a good dude off the court, too.”
Rioux smiled when the conversation shifted to his background.
“My brother, Emile, he’s the one person that put me on basketball,” he said. “He’s my number one fan.”
Both of his parents were volleyball players, and Rioux briefly tried it himself.
“I did beach volleyball with a couple of my friends,” he said. “It wasn’t anything crazy.”
Then back to the present. “It’s a great environment to be in,” Rioux said. “We like it a lot.”
Some moments feel bigger than the game around them. This was one of them.
And for Rioux, it was all his.
English (US)