The Minnesota football team has come a long way this season and coach Tim Brewster is determined to let people know about it, no matter how the season ends.

After a 7-1 start that had fans dreaming of a January bowl game, the Golden Gophers have lost two straight going into their game Saturday at the University of Wisconsin.

With an injury to standout receiver Eric Decker, who has been ruled out for at least this week's game with a high ankle sprain, it now looks like Minnesota has a chance to lose its last four games to finish 7-5. It closes out the regular season at home against Iowa.

Brewster is not about to contemplate that scenario, of course, but he still likes his team's position, despite consecutive home losses to Northwestern and Michigan.

"I'm just really pleased with our football team," Brewster said Tuesday during the Big Ten Conference coaches' teleconference. "What we wanted to do was take the steps necessary to be an improved football team. That's what we've done.

"We're a 7-3 football team. We're a bowl-eligible football team, coming off a 1-11 season last year. I don't think there's anything that's going to diminish the progress we've made, both on the field and also (in) recruiting."

This year's fade is reminiscent of teams under former coach Glen Mason, who also used soft non-conference schedules to pad his early season records. In addition to the four non-conference wins over Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, Montana State and Florida Atlantic, the Gophers' three conference wins have come against teams that are a combined 5-13 in Big Ten play (Indiana, Illinois and Purdue).

One other lingering similarity to Mason's teams is the inability to beat the Wolverines. The 29-6 victory last week by Michigan allowed it to finish 12-0 at the Metrodome. The Gophers move into a new stadium next season.

The biggest strides Minnesota has made this year are on defense under new defensive coordinator Ted Roof, previously the head coach at Duke the last five years. Last year's team allowed staggering totals of 440 points (of 36.7 per game) and 6,224 yards (518.7 per game).

Brewster praised his entire defensive staff, but said Roof has "come in with a very positive mind-set, a very sound defensive system ... and our guys have really bought into the style of play in which we want to play."

The Gophers lead the Big Ten in turnover margin at plus-15 with the help of 27 forced turnovers.

"We've done a great job in forcing turnovers," Brewster said. "I don't think you can underestimate the improvement we've made defensively. Last year we were a poor defensive football team. This year, we're taking steps to becoming a good defensive football team."

This year's team ranks fourth in the conference in scoring defense (19 points per game) and eighth in total defense (370 yards per game).

But some cracks have appeared in recent weeks, especially against the run. Michigan rushed for 232 yards and Brewster admitted afterward the Wolverines were the more physical team.

That's an issue with the Badgers on tap this week.

Now, with the number of spread teams you have in the Big Ten, you don't see that hard, physical downhill running attack as much," Brewster said. "You've really got to prepare for it. You've got to have a very physical week of practice to get in that mind-set to go out and play against that style of offense like Wisconsin."