Gators’ Bennett Andersen Goes Viral After Flirty Interview Moment

March Madness has delivered plenty of buzzer-beaters and bracket busters, but Florida Gators guard Bennett Andersen is going viral for something a little more unexpected.

Bennett Andersen's wide-eyed interview with ESPN Gainesville’s Talia Baia is gaining traction on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Following Florida’s impressive 87-71 Sweet 16 win over Maryland on Thursday at Chase Center, Baia entered the Gators locker room to interview Andersen. While she congratulated him for sinking a key two-pointer and helping the team advance to the Elite Eight, it wasn’t his stats that got fans talking, it was the way he looked at her.

As the freshman guard answered Baia’s questions, social media quickly lit up with reactions to Andersen’s expression, with fans convinced he’d just experienced love at first sight.

“I think a young man fell in love,” one X user wrote.

“Bros better than me, I would’ve folded,” someone else chimed in.

“That man is in love lol,” a third added, while another fan declared, “My man found his soul mate.”

“He was looking at her like she was the moon and stars,” someone else said.

For those unaware, Baia serves as a sports reporter for ESPN Gainesville. With over 16,000 followers on Instagram and another 9,000 on X, she’s built a notable presence on social media. Baia is a well-recognized figure in Florida’s sports media scene, frequently delivering coverage from the sidelines and inside locker rooms during games.

As for Anderson, he recently spoke about how experiencing UF’s program as both a manager and a player has given him unique perspectives on what it’s like to be part of a high-level team.

"I didn’t realize going into a player I would learn so much different stuff and see it a different way, but I feel like I have," Andersen said. "Just getting to be in the locker room in practice and hearing guys thoughts on how practice went, and different things going on I think has taught me a ton.”

Though Andersen’s playing time was limited in Saturday’s Elite Eight matchup against Texas Tech, his team managed to keep the dream alive. Led by a sensational 30-point performance from Walter Clayton Jr., the Gators secured an 84-79 victory to punch their ticket to the Final Four.

Thomas Haugh and Alijah Martin also stepped up, scoring 20 and 10 points respectively to help Florida advance.

While Andersen may not have contributed on the court that night, his presence certainly made waves off it, thanks to the now-viral postgame moment with Baia.

Top-seeded Houston made a commanding statement on their road to the Final Four, dismantling No. 2 Tennessee in a 69-50 Elite Eight victory that left little doubt about their championship aspirations.

The Cougars came out swinging at the Chase Center, establishing a stifling defensive presence that smothered the Volunteers early. Houston raced to a commanding lead in the first half, holding Tennessee to just 15 points and heading into the break up by 19. Despite a more competitive second half from Tennessee, the damage had already been done.

L.J. Cryer was the standout for Houston, leading all scorers with 17 points. He added seven rebounds and four assists, continuing his strong tournament run with another efficient and composed performance.

Now, Houston sets its sights on a tantalizing Final Four showdown with Cooper Flagg and the Duke Blue Devils. With the Cougars firing on all cylinders, confidence will be high as they prepare to face their toughest test yet.

In regard to Florida, they will return to the court next Saturday for their Final Four matchup, with their opponent yet to be determined.

As for Andersen, fans will be watching closely, not just for his game, but perhaps to see if there’s a part two to his unforgettable interview moment.