One of the best surprises in all of college basketball so far this year has been the performance of the Monmouth University men’s team. Yeah, the quality of play has been unexpectedly strong—the team is 7-3 and has beaten some of the sport’s heavyweights—but that’s not what we’re talking about. No, what we’re describing is the Monmouth bench players and how they celebrate the team’s big shots and huge victories.
They’re likely the most creative bench-warming players in NCAA history—they go by the “Bench Mob” moniker—and every time they strike a new pose or emerge with a new routine, they make waves across the college basketball-loving Internet.
An example:
It’s been a great game so far for @MonmouthBBall, which means an AMAZING night for @MonmouthBench! https://t.co/Uw7CqC7uGa
— FS1 (@FS1) December 16, 2015
Monmouth has had good reason to celebrate. Although the Hawks play in the lightly-regarded Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference—it’s one of those conferences that typically receives only one NCAA tournament bid per year—the perpetual underdogs have upset major-conference teams like UCLA, USC, Notre Dame, and Georgetown.
They just keep winning, and they keep on celebrating. And now these hyped-up players have created a video guide on how to create the best viral bench moments.
We’ve seen a few of these celebrations on the court already, but the Monmouth bench—which includes Daniel Pillari, Greg Noack, Louie Pillari, and Tyler Robinson—has given us so much more this season. Monmouth has made us laugh, and they’ve also made us think about our lives and those who came before us. Most importantly, they’ve made us believe.
Here are some of the best examples of the Bench Mob’s wizardry.
Monmouth is a No. 1 seed. pic.twitter.com/jZV284c4bv
— David Wilson (@DBWilson2) November 29, 2015
No. 1 overall seed! pic.twitter.com/im0UEhpvPU
— David Wilson (@DBWilson2) November 29, 2015
https://twitter.com/CoachFinamore/status/670461826182737920
The @MonmouthBench does the Sistine Chapel celebration pic.twitter.com/ITkPbGyik6
— FS1 (@FS1) December 16, 2015
The @MonmouthBench Mob showed me one their favorite skits – The Heart Attack. pic.twitter.com/n5UrhYBNCm
— Adam Woodard (@AdamWoodard) December 16, 2015
https://vine.co/v/imiJQdaOLqq
https://vine.co/v/imiemI1X55v
https://vine.co/v/imiOFzBXAKd
Yeah, but doesn’t the coach get all pissed that some of his players are distracting from the game? Um, nope.
Coach King Rice on @MonmouthBench: “Those guys are great young men. …They found a way where they can truly help outside of practice.”
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) December 16, 2015
But as usual, the greats leave us wanting more.
Whatever, Monmouth, I’ll be impressed when you do a celebration based on Picasso’s Guernica
— Brian Hamilton (@_Brian_Hamilton) December 16, 2015
[please do this]
H/T CBSSports.com | Screengrab via The Kicker/YouTube
