St. John’s men’s basketball team is in the national spotlight, and Rick Pitino is leading the charge. The 72-year-old head coach is taking his sixth different school into the NCAA Tournament, and the team stands on the verge of making history. Sitting atop the Big East standings, St. John’s is just two wins away from securing its first regular-season title since the Chris Mullin era. But wait—that’s not the only big news coming out of Queens.

At the beginning of this season, Vice Sports decided to follow Rick Pitino and St. John’s through a six-episode documentary series titled Pitino: Red Storm Rising. But as the team became one of the biggest stories in college basketball, the series gained momentum, and now it has been extended through March Madness.

“The St. John’s story is building momentum, and VICE Sports is seriously considering adding one, perhaps two additional episodes of Pitino: Red Storm Rising to the six originally ordered, but nothing has been finalized,” a Vice spokesperson told NJ Advance Media.

While St. John’s head coach has remained tight-lipped about the specifics, it is reported that the documentary is yielding some NIL money. Well, given the audience the Red Storm has managed to tap into, it is no shocker VICE Sports wished to continue.

“It is very exciting how well-received Pitino: Red Storm Rising has been… The incredible reach, viewership, and impressions have helped elevate the basketball program’s brand while also reaching a new and younger audience,” St. John’s athletic director Ed Kull said. Even in February, the team has garnered massive attention compared to previous seasons.

Take their February 1st game against Georgetown, where FS1 averaged 154,000 viewers. Not just that, their recent game versus Creighton averaged 542,000 viewers on FS1—the second most-watched Big East game this season. The game against UConn would also draw over 1.4 million viewers, becoming the second-most watched on FOX.

While the team’s success has played a crucial role, billion-dollar brand Vice TV has also been a game-changer. There’s no doubt that NIL money can either build a title contender or leave a program struggling to keep pace. Vice TV’s boost comes at a critical time, helping the Red Storm compete with traditional powerhouses in recruiting wars.

And honestly, the Red Storm are worth every penny. Don’t believe it? Just look at St. John’s statement win over UConn. Once considered Dan Hurley’s conference to own, St. John’s flipped the Big East hierarchy and swept the Huskies for the first time in 25 years.

“We’ve got too many flaws,” Hurley admitted after the loss. And now, it makes even more sense why Mike DeCourcy of Fox Sports has projected them as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, despite potential matchups against Tennessee and Duke.

In fact, the only hurdle—speculation about Pitino’s departure—is no longer a threat. According to athletic director Ed Kull, Pitino isn’t going anywhere. “I want him to retire here,” Kull told NJ Advance Media. “We want to make sure we lock him in here for the foreseeable future. I’m committed to that.” If you’re wondering why St. John’s would want to extend a veteran coach instead of bringing in a younger name, there’s a reason.

Amid NIL celebration, Rick Pitino focuses on chasing history with St. John’s

It’s Pitino himself. In his second season, the head coach has taken St. John’s from an afterthought to a powerhouse. Now, the Hall of Famer is on the brink of winning his first Big East Coach of the Year award while rewriting history.

If St. John’s secures the regular-season title, Pitino will become the first coach to win the league’s regular-season championship with two different schools. But that’s not what he’s focused on. When asked about his success, he deflected praise back to the program’s history.

“I’m not what St. John’s is about—Chris Mullin is what St. John’s is about,” Pitino said. “He’s the most famous player in the history of the school… He made St. John’s something special back in the ‘80s.”

With Pitino at the helm, St. John’s has a real chance to bring back the glory days of the Mullin era—especially with the confirmation of the 72-year-old coach’s long-term future. Now, Pitino and the Red Storm will look to claim two historic records.

And, there’s only Butler and Seton Hall standing between the Red Storm and their place in history. What do you think will happen?