RECAP: Mizzou continues to feel doubted after first SEC semifinal appearance

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mizzou men's basketball team continues to cement their names in the history books with the program's first ever SEC semifinal appearance. The Tigers fell in Saturday's semifinal game to top-seeded Alabama and afterwards the team says they're continuing to be doubted.

"No one thought we'd get a two game bye," said senior forward Kobe Brown. "We're definitely not a bottom team in this conference and that was the main goal to show the world. Every year we get picked to be in the bottom half and thers's no need for that, I feel like we should be in the top somewhere."

The Tigers hung with the Crimson Tide in the first half, but the difference came out of the locker room when Bama started knocking down shots that MU couldn't seem to find.

"At the 11:43 mark of the game in the second half, I thought it got away from us a little bit," said head coach Dennis Gates. "I didn't think we managed the game when it relates to trying to get to the free throw line when we were missing wide open three pointers and wide open rim shots."

Gates said after the loss in Nashville that he hopes for nine SEC teams to take the next step in their seasons and land a spot in the NCAA Tournament. He also said that even though his group didn't win the SEC, that doesn't mean they can't win the next.

"Historically when you look at the history of teams being able to win the tournament, some may not have even of won their conference tournament and been able to play in national championship games or move forward," Gates said. "I want everybody to win in our conference, except when they play us."

Up next - Mizzou will await to hear what seed they will get in the NCAA Tournament. That selection show will be Sunday at 5 p.m.

The full recap of Mizzou's SEC semifinal appearance will play Sunday on Fox 22 at 9:30 p.m.