Kohler to BYU

JonathanW2

Senior
Aug 6, 2025
646
976
93
Mitchell is the better playmaker and scorer. The ball will move well with him and with what Pope really likes to do.
He is the better scorer. But our scoring will be much better than our rebounding and defense before adding whoever we add. Scoring is only 1/2 the game.
 
May 27, 2007
31,951
25,093
113
What is the problem exactly? He got his feelings hurt because UK fans wrote him off as going to byu. Wow I wonder where he ended up going.

To me its just says there was a lack of communication between Pope and his staff and the family.

They only got feelings hurt from fans because the way the coaching staff was dealing with this wasn't really giving them any confidence they were a priority. At least that's what I gather from those comments.

They were listening to the fanbase because the coaching staff wasn't giving them anything. Whether that's true or not who knows but that's how they felt. That's the issue. Because if this one recruit family is saying things like this, maybe that's true of other recruits and their families.

And sure not everyone is top priority. But I'd think a coaching staff if you want something you need to at least make them feel like they are. Doing things this way, you might end up with........well no one.
 

bnewt5

Senior
Feb 17, 2026
582
703
93
Guys there is like 365 other school and 25% have just about the same money as us. So if you take off that “Kentucky standard” bs everyone always talks about there isn’t a ton of reason to come here unless you like the culture/gameplan
There used to be a standard for uk untill the last 10 years or so. UK was one of the bluest blood programs. Then ccc got lazy and let the program slide to has been status and Pope has not raised the program from that disaster. Being the winning establishment program in college basketball history verifies that standard. Not sure why you don't see that. UK has fallen to after thought status like iu, unc, and where everyone thought/hoped Duke would fall when k retired. The nil crap has also contributed. Pope seemingly has trouble landing recruits even offering more $. No question the program is back sliding in status and fan support.
 
Last edited:

CELTICAT

Heisman
May 21, 2002
19,365
19,197
113
Pope allows UK to spend resources in order to inform BYU of NIL market value, but some of you are not ready for that conversation.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: RunninRichie

bnewt5

Senior
Feb 17, 2026
582
703
93
To me its just says there was a lack of communication between Pope and his staff and the family.

They only got feelings hurt from fans because the way the coaching staff was dealing with this wasn't really giving them any confidence they were a priority. At least that's what I gather from those comments.

They were listening to the fanbase because the coaching staff wasn't giving them anything. Whether that's true or not who knows but that's how they felt. That's the issue. Because if this one recruit family is saying things like this, maybe that's true of other recruits and their families.

And sure not everyone is top priority. But I'd think a coaching staff if you want something you need to at least make them feel like they are. Doing things this way, you might end up with........well no one.
Seems to be an on-going theme that recruits don't feel they are priority and then pope has to over pay to land them
 

Padsfs07

All-Conference
Jan 19, 2013
3,954
3,809
108
The SEC requires transfers to announce their intent prior to June, Mitchell did not. Not even remotely close to Aberdeens situation.

You're right, not remotely close to Aberdeens situation since he is now ineligible of all things.
 
Jun 23, 2026
245
667
93
Then why are we so heavily involved with so many of these guys, and we are basically never the perceived leader? The few times we have been the leader like Wright, Caleb Wilson, Stokes, Christian Collins, etc somehow it almost always goes wrong. It is insanity and anyone saying otherwise is lying to themselves.
Who told you we were the leader? Everyone said that about Kusterica and Pope claimed they hadn’t had discussions with him in months.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,369
72,253
113
I think the other SEC to SEC transfers were within the transfer window to transfer intra conference.
They were, but these 2022 players were told they were ineligible, so they didn't enter. Well, all that has changed now that the courts have ruled that 2022 players can still play.

But my point is, Sankey is focusing on the SEC to SEC thing. That's a completely different reason. If he wants to say Mitchell is denied because he didn't enter his name, fine, but that has nothing to do with him transferring to another SEC school. That's obviously within the rules, because it happens every year.
 
Last edited:

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,369
72,253
113
To me its just says there was a lack of communication between Pope and his staff and the family.

They only got feelings hurt from fans because the way the coaching staff was dealing with this wasn't really giving them any confidence they were a priority. At least that's what I gather from those comments.

They were listening to the fanbase because the coaching staff wasn't giving them anything. Whether that's true or not who knows but that's how they felt. That's the issue. Because if this one recruit family is saying things like this, maybe that's true of other recruits and their families.

And sure not everyone is top priority. But I'd think a coaching staff if you want something you need to at least make them feel like they are. Doing things this way, you might end up with........well no one.
This is exactly how I took those quotes. Pope gave them no reason to come here. He just talked their ears off. About what? I can only imagine.
Man, I really hope he gets Mitchell, if he doesn't, losing Kohler, because he made him feel like a backup plan, is going to end badly for him.
 

PastorofMuppets82

All-Conference
Mar 4, 2025
661
1,486
93
Pretty interesting statement about BBN making Kohler feel like a backup plan. Since Pope and staff weren't allowed to speak with his camp prior to Aug 18th (when the California TRO passed), the family was checking the fanbase and didn't like what BBN was saying about him. Not just a bad sign for Pope, but a sign that shows BBN might have hurt this recruitment (albeit a very short one) as well. And directly from the recruits parents mouth.
 

SenseMaker_Cats

All-American
Jul 3, 2025
2,101
6,337
113
They were, but these 2022 players were told they were ineligible, so they didn't enter. Well, all that has changed now that the courts have ruled that 2022 players can still play.

But my point is, Sankey is focusing on the SEC to SEC thing. That's a completely different reason. If he wants to say Mitchell is denied because he didn't enter his name, fine, but that has nothing to do with him transferring to another SEC school. That's obviously within the rules, because it happens every year.
“That's obviously within the rules, because it happens every year.”

Are you saying every year there are players that enter the portal after the date the SEC says it’s ok to transfer to another SEC school?

Look, I think it’s stupid with everything that’s going on but Sankey has a leg to stand on whether we like it or not. He’s not JUST looking at SEC to SEC transfers but also the rules to do so.
 

SenseMaker_Cats

All-American
Jul 3, 2025
2,101
6,337
113
Pretty interesting statement about BBN making Kohler feel like a backup plan. Since Pope and staff weren't allowed to speak with his camp prior to Aug 18th (when the California TRO passed), the family was checking the fanbase and didn't like what BBN was saying about him. Not just a bad sign for Pope, but a sign that shows BBN might have hurt this recruitment (albeit a very short one) as well. And directly from the recruits parents mouth.
My understanding is, we should have had a different coach take over the recruitment so that a different coach wouldn’t have been able to tamper either. Easy peasy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PastorofMuppets82

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
43,133
65,691
113
None of the Nancies on here know what happened in the Zoom with Kohler, yet they think they would have done it differently. Pope may have spent time seeing if Kohler would wait. May have been a hard pitch, first come first serve. May have said he planned to have two openings. May have just been a payback to BYU and told Kohler he was just helping him with the BYU negotiations to see BYU pay more. We don’t know. So, when all the Nancies throw their doom and gloom slurs at Pope, just be thankful the Nancies don’t run anything that matters.
 
Feb 17, 2025
605
803
93
I have repeatedly posted this Pope and his staff are the worst recruiting staff in the history of ky basketball. This is unacceptable for the winningest collegant basketball program of all time. Don't call me a hater or troll bring the proof or facts to dispell this.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,369
72,253
113
“That's obviously within the rules, because it happens every year.”

Are you saying every year there are players that enter the portal after the date the SEC says it’s ok to transfer to another SEC school?

Look, I think it’s stupid with everything that’s going on but Sankey has a leg to stand on whether we like it or not. He’s not JUST looking at SEC to SEC transfers but also the rules to do so.
No, I'm saying players transfer from 1 SEC school to another every year. Whether your name was in the portal in time, or not, is irrelevant ever since that judge in Colorado made her ruling.
 
Feb 17, 2025
605
803
93
Delusional ky fans never learn Pope will whiff on Mitchell too. We need a coach that can recruit nationally against anyone and win those battles most of the time.Pope loses every time if it is a top tier player.This is a sad reality with recruiting when it comes to Mark Pope his biggest weakness is recruiting.Recruiting is the lifeblood of athletic programs whether highschool or portal.
 

PastorofMuppets82

All-Conference
Mar 4, 2025
661
1,486
93
No, I'm saying players transfer from 1 SEC school to another every year. Whether your name was in the portal in time, or not, is irrelevant ever since that judge in Colorado made her ruling.
You mean the judge in Colorado who got her Temporary Restraining Order (not ruling) overturned today by the Federal Court in Colorado by granting a Stay (also not a ruling) to the NCAA? That one that no longer gives players a fifth year and only the state courts TRO's currently do?

Not trying to argue with you so don't take it that way, just trying to provide current and up to date information as many people are confused or don't have all the info with things moving so quickly. The SEC transfer rule date (May 1st for MBB) has existed since instant transfer eligibility was created. Yes, players transfer SEC school to SEC school all the time, but no one, until this year, has ever been allowed to do so in the SEC AFTER the cutoff date for their sport. There is currently NO federal law granting players a fifth year to bind the SEC's hands via anti-trust with the Colorado TRO falling.

All that said, I fully expect anti-trust lawsuits to get filed IF and only IF Sankey and the SEC try to enforce their inter conference transfer rule.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kyjeff1

SenseMaker_Cats

All-American
Jul 3, 2025
2,101
6,337
113
Delusional ky fans never learn Pope will whiff on Mitchell too. We need a coach that can recruit nationally against anyone and win those battles most of the time.Pope loses every time if it is a top tier player.This is a sad reality with recruiting when it comes to Mark Pope his biggest weakness is recruiting.Recruiting is the lifeblood of athletic programs whether highschool or portal.
Rooting for ya big guy.
 
May 27, 2007
31,951
25,093
113
This is exactly how I took those quotes. Pope gave them no reason to come here. He just talked their ears off. About what? I can only imagine.
Man, I really hope he gets Mitchell, if he doesn't, losing Kohler, because he made him feel like a backup plan, is going to end badly for him.

Yeah cause I mean man you are on a Zoom call for 2.5 hours with someone and they STILL feel like this?

What the heck was Pope saying during this meeting lol.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kyjeff1
May 27, 2007
31,951
25,093
113
I have repeatedly posted this Pope and his staff are the worst recruiting staff in the history of ky basketball. This is unacceptable for the winningest collegant basketball program of all time. Don't call me a hater or troll bring the proof or facts to dispell this.

I mean Billy G was here for two years but yeah lol it def seems like Pope isn't good at recruiting at all.
 
Dec 3, 2024
197
436
62
Who told you we were the leader? Everyone said that about Kusterica and Pope claimed they hadn’t had discussions with him in months.
LMAO so you're one of those people that think our own insiders, Jeff Goodman, Fo68, Trilly, and many of the other insiders are just making stuff up and we never led for any of those guys? Yeah man everyone is just out to get Mark and they are just making stuff up. Delusional.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RunninRichie

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,369
72,253
113
You mean the judge in Colorado who got her Temporary Restraining Order (not ruling) overturned today by the Federal Court in Colorado by granting a Stay (also not a ruling) to the NCAA? That one that no longer gives players a fifth year and only the state courts TRO's currently do?

Not trying to argue with you so don't take it that way, just trying to provide current and up to date information as many people are confused or don't have all the info with things moving so quickly. The SEC transfer rule date (May 1st for MBB) has existed since instant transfer eligibility was created. Yes, players transfer SEC school to SEC school all the time, but no one, until this year, has ever been allowed to do so in the SEC AFTER the cutoff date for their sport. There is currently NO federal law granting players a fifth year to bind the SEC's hands via anti-trust with the Colorado TRO falling.

All that said, I fully expect anti-trust lawsuits to get filed IF and only IF Sankey and the SEC try to enforce their inter conference transfer rule.
Busy at work, I didn't see that it was overturned.

But my main point is, Sankey is/was trying to block players from going from one SEC school to another.

Either way, Mitchell is cleared, so it's a non issue.
 
KSR

Latest

  1. 01 KSR LOOK: This Kentucky-themed truck is a tailgater's dream
  2. 02 KSR 11 Personnel: Familiar Faces in New Places, NCAA TRO MADNESS!
  3. 03 KSR Transfer Portal Tracker: Where former Kentucky Wildcats are playing football in 2026
  4. 04 KSR A Louisville MBB player has been dismissed for violating team rules
  5. 05 KSR A healthy Brooklyn DeLeye is locked in for her senior season