Rick Pitino recently noticed that his team’s social media accounts had fewer followers than he expected.

He went to the sports information department’s office, and asked how he could help.

“Win,” was the response.

They told the right guy.

With two national championships, seven Final Four berths and an all-time record at the college level of 711-290, few have won more.

It’s what led St. John’s to hire him, and it’s why this upcoming season has more anticipation and excitement than any in recent memory.

Season-ticket sales are up nearly 80 percent.

There is already national relevance; St. John’s finished just outside of the Associated Poll preseason top 25.

A Hall of Fame coach is now leading the Johnnies, looking to bring them back to the main draw of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015, and possibly even win their first game there since way back in 2000.

“This is a big year for us, because the brand is long gone with Louie [Carnesecca],” the 71-year-old Pitino said. “The brand needs to be brought back. … Winning is the priority.”

Pitino talked a lot about those in tandem during Tuesday’s media day at Carnesecca Arena, emphasizing the importance of establishing a new St. John’s immediately.

A team that will defend, share the ball and be an elite-conditioned group.

One that will play the best teams annually in the non-conference portion of its schedule (Pitino mentioned potential games next year against Duke and Alabama), and draw top-tier talent to Queens.

“We’re going to compete against anybody in the nation recruiting-wise, we don’t care who they are,” Pitino said. “We have our master plan.”

That, of course, only happens if St. John’s wins — and wins right away.

Pitino declined to put expectations on this group, partly because he isn’t sure what he has just yet.

He will learn more Saturday, when the Johnnies face Rutgers in an exhibition game for charity.

The only returning contributor is center Joel Soriano.

Pitino and his staff were incredibly busy in the spring after taking over in mid-March, bringing in 10 transfers and two freshmen.

Pitino said only two players — point guard Daniss Jenkins and power forward Chris Ledlum — are set starters.

Jordan Dingle, the nation’s returning leading scorer from Penn, and Soriano are still battling to be part of the first five.

“I think we’re a very deep team. That I’m confident in,” Pitino said. “We’re going to get better. Each week, we’re a team that will get better, because the players don’t know each other really well yet, don’t know the moves of each other. But I see tremendous improvement.”

Pitino does like the roster, though there are things that need to be cleaned up.

Turnovers have been a major issue.

Some of the program’s top players on paper — Soriano, Dingle, Ledlum and UMass transfer RJ Luis — have never played in an NCAA Tournament.

Pitino scoffed at the idea that some of them had great seasons last year, because they didn’t win.

It’s a lesson he is hammering home to the Johnnies: Only one thing matters.

“I don’t consider anybody playing great when they lose,” Pitino said. “They may have good stats, but if you’re so great, why aren’t you winning?”

So much is new at St. John’s, from the coach to the players on down.

It will play eight games at the Garden, the Red Storm’s most since the 2014-15 season.

There are heightened expectations and confidence in a coach who has won everywhere he’s been.

Pitino sees and hears it just by walking around the city, strangers yelling to him, “Go Johnnies!”

“Everyone is looking forward to it,” Pitino said. “There is an anticipation and excitement about us. Now we have to prove it.”

A new era has arrived.

The hope is that a lot of winning will follow, starting Nov. 7 when the ball is tipped against Stony Brook.