The Florida Gators won the SEC Tournament with an impressive nine-point win over the Tennessee Volunteers on Sunday. The win secured them a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Following a win in a conference tournament title game, it’s a tradition to cut down the nets, with every player and coach keeping a piece as memorabilia. This task usually requires a ladder; however, not everyone needs the extra help.
Olivier Rioux Doesn’t Need a Ladder
The Gators look like a team that is ready for March. The SEC has been the best conference in college basketball this season, so everyone knew the conference tournament would be a gauntlet.
Florida had to knock off three top-25 teams en route to their fifth SEC Tournament: No.21 Missouri, No.5 Alabama, and No.8 Tennessee. The Gators did it dominantly, winning all three games by a combined 45 points, including a 22-point stomping of the Crimson Tide.
After the win today over Tennessee, the Gators participated in the tradition of cutting down the nets. The ladders came out so players and coaches could go up and cut a piece of their own. However, not everyone on the Gators needs help getting up there. Florida 7’9″ freshman center Olivier Rioux took matters into his own hands when it was his turn to take the scissors.
7’9″ freshman Olivier Rioux didn’t need a ladder to cut the net 😂 @GatorsMBK pic.twitter.com/UW2sEZUfZP
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) March 16, 2025
Fans were shocked to learn that Florida has someone on its squad who is almost eight feet tall. Although the freshman didn’t log any minutes in today’s game, he will be someone people are paying attention to in March.
Florida’s March Madness Path
The Gators’ 30-4 record has bolstered them to a one-seed in the west region of the NCAA Tournament. They play their first game on Friday, March 21, at 6:50 p.m. against Norfolk State. If Florida handles business as expected, we could see Rioux get some playing time.
If Florida wins its opening game, it will play the winner of the matchup between Oklahoma and UConn. Both teams are tough, but UConn’s being on the eight line is unfortunate for the Gators, considering they are the two-time defending champions and have been playing well lately.
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The two-seed in the region is the St. Johns Red Storm, which won the Big East Tournament and is coming into the tournament with some momentum. If both teams advance to the Elite Eight, St. Johns would be Florida’s toughest matchup. Florida likes to play fast and score many points, while the Red Storm carries one of the most formidable defenses in the nation.
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