The Monmouth Hawks are perhaps the best story of the early college basketball season. The team from the tiny MAAC has taken on some of college basketball’s giants and won.
Monmouth’s over-the-top bench celebrations are the most fun thing about college basketball
Other teams have tried. But no benchwarmers have ever been as great at celebrating as the Monmouth Hawks’ benchwarmers.
They beat UCLA in overtime at UCLA. They beat No. 17 Notre Dame. And Sunday, they knocked off USC. The Hawks have proven they’re not just some low-major. They’re legit.
But more important is what’s going on slightly off the court. Monmouth’s bench players have proven themselves to be the greatest celebrators in all of college basketball. For every on-court moment, the Hawks’ bench squad -- led by cousins Daniel and Louie Pillari, as well as freshman Tyler Robinson and injured forward Greg Noack -- has a ridiculous, coordinated, over-the-top celebration.
Between the four of them, they’ve played a total of two minutes this season. But they’ve made Monmouth perhaps the most fun team to watch in college hoops. Here’s a sampling of their greatest work. We’re hoping we’ll see more as the season goes on, perhaps ending in an NCAA Tournament trip.
The heart attack
Bench goals pic.twitter.com/DbWBdcUoa0
— Athlete Confessions (@AthIeteFession) November 28, 2015 The trophy fish
We cookin' fish tonight! @MonmouthBench pic.twitter.com/QRJFy40ewR
— Mike Zimmermann (@MCZimmermann) November 28, 2015 The re-enactment
Specifically for after dunks:
The human scissors
The touchdown pass
Not just basketball... @MonmouthBench pic.twitter.com/wwN9QUjek5
— Mike Zimmermann (@MCZimmermann) November 28, 2015 The hawks in flight
The Monmouth bench is an enthusiastic group pic.twitter.com/5iG8GIEXER
— The Cauldron (@TheCauldron) November 28, 2015 The sweet taste of victory
After beating Notre Dame, they made a bowl of delicious victory in the locker room and chugged it. And then chugged some Gatorade, too.
These dudes are legends #monmouthbench pic.twitter.com/JNKiijJRLD
— White Bball Pains (@WhiteBballPains) November 28, 2015 The three arrows
The high kicks
@MonmouthBench the high kick killed me all game pic.twitter.com/FZStF8XV5G
— Yung Stew (@calebstew6) November 29, 2015 The RIP
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