Florida Gators player goes viral for mesmerized look during postgame interview: ‘Young man fell in love’

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: March Madness is in full swing, and while the Florida Gators are making headlines on the court, one player’s off-court moment has stolen the spotlight.

Florida guard Bennett “Buckets” Anderson became an instant internet sensation after a locker room interview with ESPN’s Talia Baia, where his expression, and possibly his heart, seemed completely captivated by the reporter, according to Whiskey Riff.

Florida Gators player goes viral for wide-eyed interview with ESPN reporter

After the Florida Gators' hard-fought victory over No 4 seed Maryland to secure their Elite 8 spot, Talia Baia made her way into the Gators’ locker room for post-game reactions. A standard interview quickly turned into social media gold.

The Florida Gators secured a spot in the Elite 8 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament’s West Region after defeating the Maryland Terrapins 87-71 in San Francisco on Thursday, March 27.

Baia kicked things off with a simple question about the team’s experience so far. Anderson, wide-eyed and seemingly dazed, managed to respond, though fans couldn’t help but notice he looked more focused on Baia than the conversation itself.

“The trip has been awesome. Energy was good. We were excited. We didn’t play as well as we wanted to the last couple of rounds, so I think the whole team is ready to get out there and show who we’ve been all season,” Anderson said, somehow holding it together.

As Baia continued asking questions, Anderson’s facial expressions told a different story. His locked-in gaze, slight stammer, and nervous smile had fans convinced his heart had been stolen.

Bennett Anderson’s locker room moment sparks Internet frenzy

Clearly, Bennett Anderson had a moment that basketball and Gators fans won’t forget anytime soon! Anderson’s reaction to Baia—whether it was admiration, infatuation, or just plain awE—had social media buzzing.

One user joked, "I think a young man fell in love," while another admitted, "Bros better than me, I would’ve folded."

A user recreated the heartwarming moment in a Studio Ghibli-style portrait, capturing the charm of the viral sensation.

A Ghibli-style portrait refers to artwork inspired by the signature animation style of Studio Ghibli, the legendary Japanese animation studio behind films like 'My Neighbor Totoro', 'Spirited Away', and 'Howl's Moving Castle.'

Another comment read, "That man is in love lol."

One wrote, "Bennie Buckets about to risk it all and go for 50 pts."

Others just appreciated the genuine moment, as one user put it, "Bro was mesmerized (I don’t blame him)."

And finally, another summed it up perfectly: "He looks like the kid in high school trying to talk to the hottest, most popular chick in school... Great moments."

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