I highly doubt Pope has any interest in picking up Lohner. I think he wanted Richie --as a player-- primarily as an energy guy for at best an end-of-the-rotation spot.

I also highly doubt Pope tried to deceive Richie into thinking his opportunities & impact at UK would be anywhere near to what they'd be in Provo. I think he tried to sell him on a much lesser role — but one in which he'd give Pope some needed leadership in the locker room. Hoping, perhaps, that Richie valued the UK experience enough to maybe make the jump.

I doubt Pope ever tried to belittle BYU on that trip, though. I think he expected Richie to likely stay where he was at. (And get him a little NIL bump back at BYU in the process.)

Richie loves the game too much to be a practice scrub primarily. I think Pope respected that the whole time he was out there. But gave his guy a big pat on the back anyway — by tripping him out & offering him a schollie to one of the most storied Programs in the nation.