Florida walk-on Bennett Andersen is enjoying a well-deserved moment in the spotlight following the Gators’ impressive 87-71 win over Maryland that secured a trip to the Elite Eight. While the victory itself was headline-worthy—Florida’s first Elite Eight appearance since 2017—what happened off the court is also getting major attention.
Andersen, who rarely gets interviewed due to his limited playing time, was featured in a postgame exchange with ESPN Gainesville’s Talia Baia that has since gone viral. The student reporter kicked things off with some lighthearted praise. “First of all, congrats on your bucket, that was huge,” Baia said. “I just want to know how was the trip here, and how was the energy going into that game?”
Andersen’s simple but sincere response — “Trip’s been awesome, energy was good” — quickly gained traction on social media. Fans loved his genuine delivery and the chemistry between the two during the interview, with many noting how locked-in Andersen looked while talking with Baia.
It was a fun and refreshing moment in the middle of Florida’s serious tournament push. The Gators overcame 17 turnovers, a tight first half, and a temporary injury absence from starting forward Alex Condon to beat a strong Maryland squad. Freshman center Derik Queen did all he could for the Terps with 27 points, but Florida’s second-half defense made the difference.
Andersen, meanwhile, continues to earn his place on this talented Florida roster. After playing in just four games during the 2023–24 season, he appeared in nine this year, scoring four points and grabbing two rebounds. He even added his second career field goal in the win over Maryland.
Walk-ons like Bennett Andersen don’t always get the glory, but his story—and his viral interview—have made him a fan favorite. And with steady growth over his first two seasons, who knows? Year three could be the moment when he carves out a real role in the rotation.
For now, though, Andersen is soaking up every second of Florida’s deep tournament run—and enjoying a little fame off the court, too.
