The players aren't naïve. The Gophers know there is plenty of skepticism as they prepare for the start of Big Ten men's basketball play in two weeks.
The Gophers are 10-1. They have had several emotional victories. They have seen a host of players step up under pressure.
But they are still a team without its best player, playing a nonconference schedule -- with two games left, including Tuesday's game against Central Michigan -- devoid of top teams. And they know the skeptics are still waiting for a bigger test.
"We want to come out and prove to people that we can hang in the Big Ten without Trevor [Mbakwe]," junior forward Rodney Williams said. "And coming into the season, nobody's really given us a chance in the Big Ten, so we really just want to get out there and show everybody what we've got."
What they have is somewhat hard to quantify until they start facing tougher competition. The Gophers have a new, promising three-guard lineup, yet even with that extra guard they continue to have trouble with their ballhandling.
Their outside shooting has improved, but they are still struggling to defend outside shots. They have been experts at closing but have started slowly in several games.
The Gophers' formula has worked so far. But will it still be effective when they head out to play their first two conference games -- and their first two true road games -- at No. 19 Illinois and No. 20 Michigan?
"I think the Big Ten's always going to be competitive, especially when you go on the road," Williams said. "Everybody's going to come out and play their hardest at home. I think that's where it's going to be tough for everybody."
The team looks a lot different from what the Gophers or Big Ten opponents anticipated in the preseason. Mbakwe is out for the season because of a torn knee ligament. Julian Welch is now in the lineup as the third guard with both Andre and Austin Hollins. Elliott Eliason has added depth to the frontcourt.
Williams is suddenly playing a bigger role, while Ralph Sampson III still is adjusting after an early ankle injury.
The Gophers have been able to use their past few games to become comfortable in their new look.
"They know that Trevor is not going to play this year, and that they've got to do -- not necessarily do more, but improve, get better," coach Tubby Smith said. "And they've done that for the most part, picking up the slack."
Often without much to spare. The Gophers have played most of their games close, pulling away -- when they do -- in the final minutes. They have relied on big production from their bench players and have won by wearing teams down, not beating them up. Their identity has become playing an efficient brand of scrappy basketball.
The challenge will be winning with that style in conference play, with the Big Ten again looking like it's among the nation's best conferences top to bottom. Conference standout Ohio State won't be without star Jared Sullinger forever. Illinois is unbeaten. Indiana is as well, and the Hoosiers -- picked to finish ninth in the Big Ten in the preseason media poll -- just ousted No. 1 Kentucky.
Where the Gophers fit remains to be seen, but there are only two games left to get ready.
"We're not an offensive juggernaut by any stretch of the imagination," Smith said. "We've got talent, but that's the way we really have to play. We really haven't extended our defense and pressed people because we've just been concerned, not really about lack of depth, but the experience.
"We have good players in the backcourt, but we have three sophomores and two freshmen in the backcourt. So it's not like we have veteran people. ... Games are going to be like this."
