Mizzou hoops returns home after tough loss at No. 23 Alabama

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mizzou men's basketball team is putting its 26-point loss at No. 23 Alabama in the rearview mirror.

Of course, head coach Dennis Gates and his team will work to find ways to improve on that rough shooting night in Tuscaloosa, but this team's focus is on to the next challenger: Mississippi State.

"I think there's a couple things we could have done better, but honestly, just kind of on to the next," forward Mark Mitchell said. "Alabama is a good team. We had some chances to keep it close there in the beginning, but we didn't. They kind of let it get away from us there late. But, I'm not trying to think about that loss too much, trying to move on to the next and keep going in league play."

You can watch the full press conference with Mitchell in the video player below.

In Mizzou's 90-64 loss in Coleman Coliseum, Coach Gates said it felt like there was a lid over the basket, as his team shot season-worsts 19 percent from 3-point range and 34.8 percent from the free throw line.

However, the Tigers' struggles at the charity stripe were not just an isolated incident. In fact, it's something the team has struggled with all season long. Following that loss to the Crimson Tide, Gates' team ranked No. 338 in the nation in free throw percentage, as his team is shooting at a 66 percent clip from that line, this season.

"We just got to, you know, focus in and and take the mental challenge of a free throw and what it is. We can't allow it to avalanche. We can't allow us to overthink it," Coach Gates said. "We've done a great job knocking down free throws in practice and recently in the last couple games from 3-point line, the same thing applies. We had good looks, we got in a rhythm, we just wasn't able to knock down open ones, like we did in the past. So, we're not going to dwell on it. It's one of those things we got to flush and be prepared. The season is a long season. We're in the middle six of our SEC conference games and that's how we're going to approach it."

You can watch the full press conference with Gates in the video player below.

The team is moving on to the matchup against Mississippi State, however, these days, outside noise is inevitable. It can be both good and bad and Tiger hoops has been fielding its fair-share of criticism, following that loss to the Tide.

Although Coach Gates knows that that noise exists, he emphasized during Tuesday's press conference with local media that it's all about making sure that his player don't internalize it.

"Fanatics is great for our game and is the reason why our game has grown so much over the years. So, the criticism is accepted. What I do with our players is make sure that they keep it within and they're not externally viewing and receiving. Just as quick as you get a pat on the back, you can get a kick in the a--," Gates said. "Ultimately, I don't want our guys to focus on what's being said or how it's being said. I want them to get a rhythm of consistency on what they know we need to do. Ultimately, they don't go out there trying to make mistakes, that's not the heart of a kid. I coach the entire game. I don't ever not work on our mistakes or things like that. We work on free throws, believe it or not. So, you just got to have the mental fortitude to get through moments and not allow yourself to get too high or too low. If you're staying right there in the middle, because it's a long season, such a long season, you're able to respond how you need to respond."

The Tigers are hoping that response will come against an 11-10 Mississippi State team that currently sits in 12th place in the conference standings.

Coach Gates had high praise for Bulldog guard Josh Hubbard, who is averaging 20.7 points (No. 2 in the SEC), 2.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.

"He's been very consistent over the years, based off of what he's been able to do. So, we have to do a great job, without fouling. You know, he elevates on that jump shot, he kicks that leg out, so hopefully we don't trip over his legs or anything like that or get him to the free throw line on his jump shots. I think you have to contest, you have to keep the ball in front of you and it's not just a one man's job. It's a team effort. He's not the only scorer on that team, so they have a good healthy balance. They have good playmakers. He's an excellent playmaker. He can go primary ball handler, secondary ball handler, he can become a high-usage decision maker. We have to, ultimately, be prepared to contest and play without fouling and understand we can't give them easy looks. When they do miss, we got to rebound the basketball. We have to do hold them to one possession and if you're giving guys two shots per possession that that's that's putting you in a bad spot," Gates said.

Mizzou will tip off against Mississippi State at 2:30 p.m. on Norm Stewart Court in Columbia.