Rick Pitino singing a sea shanty with Jimmy Fallon is the weirdest thing you'll see today

Rick Pitino and the St. John's Red Storm join Jimmy Fallon (Photo: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon)

Rick Pitino has gone from college basketball’s greatest villain to arguably the nation’s top media darling in a matter of years. It’s crazy what happens when you distance yourself from the Louisville Cardinals.

He’s got the St. John’s Red Storm absolutely cruising, projected as a No. 3 seed and currently sitting at No. 19 in the NET — a not-so-sneaky Final Four pick here in the next few weeks.

To prepare for their run in March Madness, Pitino and the Red Storm joined The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon — yes, that Tonight Show with that Jimmy Fallon — on Thursday. There, Pitino put on his signature white suit with Fallon matching him while they all sang a Red Storm Sea Shanty in maybe the most ridiculous video of all time.

Take a look:

I have so many questions, starting with ‘how?’ How did Fallon get Pitino to do this? How many NIL dollars did the players get to sing along? How did Fallon get his hands on an identical suit — and get Pitino to bring out the signature look on short notice, for that matter?

The start of the video is just as ridiculous with Fallon wearing a red sweater and beanie while singing with the Red Storm featuring poorly edited basketball highlights over clouds and water with an actual storm on a boat.

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Well done to those involved. I hope the players got paid lots of money to do it.

Anyway, here’s Pitino’s full interview with Fallon, talking about his legendary 50-year coaching career and interviewing for his first coaching job on his wedding night. Check it out:

Kentucky basketball royalty and Mark Pope’s greatest mentor on the national stage is the good stuff, exactly what you need to get ready for March Madness.

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