<
>

Iona's coach is not fond of the Monmouth bench

play
Monmouth has the best bench in basketball (1:27)

The Monmouth Hawks have become known for their eccentric bench celebrations, and some might even say they have the best celebrations in basketball. (1:27)

Everyone loves the Monmouth bench, right? Well, everyone except Iona coach Tim Cluess.

The Gaels host the Hawks on Friday (9 p.m. ET, ESPNU) in a game that has serious implications in the MAAC title race, and Cluess decided to do the unthinkable, to speak ill of America's favorite bench mob.

There's some history here, too. Iona knocked Monmouth out of the MAAC tournament last season, a game in which Cluess and Monmouth coach King Rice exchanged some heated words.