15 quite likely gets it done. Who do you think the Gophers are going to be compared to?
They will be compared to Utah State, Colorado State, Boise State, Penn State, San Diego State, Western Kentucky, St. Louis, St. Bonaventure, BYU, VCU, Drake, Furman and others. Minnesota will have five wins better than many of those teams' best wins.
And, if things continue as they are and Michigan/Ohio State each get #1 seeds, then the Gophers will have double-digit wins over TWO #1 seeds in the tourney. No one can say that.
Currently, Minnesota holds wins over NET RANKING #3, #7, #8, #27, and #32. The Gophers have almost no chance for a bad loss (even losing at home to NW would be only be a Quad 3 loss, which isn't devastating.)
And, assuming they get to 15 wins, that means they will add at least one additional Quad 1 win (@Ind, vs. Ill, @PSU, vs. Rutgers would all be Quad 1.)
Six Quad One wins will likely be twice as many as most anyone on the bubble has. Plus, no bad losses. 15-11 likely gets it done.
Heck, Maryland might get in with 13 wins.