March Madness also includes love and basketball.
Following Florida’s 87-71 Sweet 16 win over Maryland on Thursday, a quick one-minute interview seems to have made Bennett Anderson’s NCAA Tournament over his shining minute on the court that saw him score his second bucket of the year.
The former walk-on and Gators team manager for three years was wide-eyed in an interview with ESPN Gainesville’s Talia Baia in the locker room. So much so that fans believe the guard “fell in love.”
Baia is a student reporter for the station, studying in Florida’s journalism and communication program.
To start the interview, Baia congratulated Anderson, also known as “Buckets”, on helping his team advance to the Elite Eight.
Anderson went on to answer several questions, including about his shot and the tournament, and fans could not help but point out how the graduate student was beaming at Baia during the interview.
“That man is in love lol,” on X user wrote.
“Bennie buckets about to risk it all and go for 50 pts,” another wrote about the eventual Elite Eight matchup between the Gators and Texas Tech.
“Bros better than me, I would’ve folded,” a third wrote.
Another chimed in: “That interview meant waaaaay more than the bucket. He won’t sleep for a month after that interview.”
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Anderson grabbed an offensive rebound with 40 seconds remaining in the Sweet 16 game, ripping it away for the Terrapins, and drove to the hoop for a layup.
The Florida bench went crazy for their teammate in the exciting moment.
However, in the Elite Eight matchup, Anderson didn’t see any minutes. Still, the Gators earned an 84-79 victory on Saturday after what was a 30-point night from senior guard Walter Clayton Jr.
Sophomore forward Thomas Haugh also delivered with 20 points and graduate student Alijah Martin added 10.
Florida is waiting to hear it Final Four opponent, which will be determined by the Auburn-Michigan State contest on Sunday evening.
It’s the Gators’ sixth time in the Final Four in program history and the first time in 11 years.
