The Florida Gators are heading to the Elite Eight of the 2025 NCAA Tournament and have won their ninth straight game when making it to the Sweet 16 dating back to 2000. The Gators were able to handle 4-seed Maryland with a big second half, beating the Terrapins 87-71.
After only having a two-point lead at halftime and 13 turnovers in the first half, Florida outscored Maryland 47-33 in the second half to punch their ticket to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2017.
One of the best feelings after winning a game in the NCAA Tournament is when the team comes together in the locker room and gets to slap their name on the board, signaling that they are moving on to the next round. Usually, the player that had the best game or leader on the team is the one to slap the name on the sign, but the Gators gifted the opportunity to team manager turned walk-on Bennett Anderson.
Florida was up by enough late in the game that without about a minute and a half remaining, head coach Todd Golden emptied his bench, including Anderson, to get some playing time. Anderson came in and scored just his second basket of the season, his only points in the NCAA Tournament. The team went absolutely crazy on the bench when Anderson scored and because of that, he got to slap their name on the sign.
Well, at least he tried to.
Took a couple tries, but the @GatorsMBK slap their name on the board for the Elite 8 🤣#MarchMadness https://t.co/tStFjZcUnT pic.twitter.com/EaRmaRbbxV
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 28, 2025
Anderson struggled to get the Gator's sign on the board as the first time he slammed it on, it fell right off. Luckily, teammate Isaiah Brown stepped in to help Anderson out and lightly placed the name on the board before emphatically slapping it again and turning to celebrate with the team.
Even though it took more than one try, that is a moment Anderson probably will never forget as a walk-on, just as he won't forget making it to the Elite Eight with this team that has the chance to go all the way in this tournament.
The Gators now anxiously await their opponent and will likely play the winner of 2-seed Texas Tech and 10-seed Arkansas.