St. John’s coach Rick Pitino believes his No. 5-ranked Red Storm got a lot out of playing the two exhibition games against Towson and seventh-ranked Michigan, but he wasn’t only talking about the players getting experience together in high-level games.

He also was talking about the program taking in Name, Image and Likeness money.

After St. John’s season-opening 108-74 win over MAAC favorite Quinnipiac on Monday — and after leading scorer Dillon Mitchell lauded the exhibitions for preparing the team — Pitino was asked about the idea of teams being permitted a third exhibition game next season.

He replied, “I think, from a money-making standpoint with NIL and everything, why not? Why would you cut back on that? It’s so tough to raise money today . . . Getting three or four exhibition

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