OK, this is not exactly what you'd call heaping on the accolades. But in a Mike Decourcy Sporting Newscolumn posted on FOXSports.com, handicapping the chances of some big name schools to make the NCAA Tournament, Decourcy says this about Minnesota:

The best non-league win was over Holy Cross.

Like we said, it's a backhanded compliment of sorts. But it says a lot about the improved stature of at least the top of the league.

After all, when is the last you can remember anybody referring to a Big Ten team's win over a Patriot League team with anything but derision.