From Rose's critical analysis following most matches, it is difficult to tell whether Penn State is 21-2 and the owner of a comfortable lead in the Big Ten, or if the Lions are 2-21 and the cellar dwellers of the conference.
But such is Rose's method of coaching: size up and assess the potential of the pupils, and then push and drive until that potential is realized. This modus operandi applies to his teams and players alike. While Rose sees the potential for postseason success in his Lions, he also sees the potential for greatness from his senior setter and co-captain, Sam Tortorello.
"My expectations for Sam are that she's capable of being a great player," Rose said of the All-American setter. "Some people can't be great because they're not that good in the first place; their success is based on the performance of other people. Those are support players, role players. Sam has the potential to be a great player, so when she doesn't achieve what I think should be, the performance level of a great player, that's what I identify."
So when Tortorello leads the Big Ten in assists per game, is named the national player of the week and is tabbed by many as the best setter (if not player) in the country, it is certainly no time for Rose to be resting and smiling about his player's accomplishments. If anything, it is time for him to keep her grounded and be the one to remind her that she is not playing at the level that he expects from her.
The same applies for the Lions as a team. National rankings, conference standings and the probable top seed in the NCAA regional to be played in Rec Hall don't seem to matter to Rose at this point. He's been here before. He knows with this group it will take a lot to make him completely satisfied, which is a testament to the talent on the squad.
Co-captain Kaleena Walters said there are, indeed, times when Rose will outwardly show his satisfaction with a victory. It just doesn't happen very often, and when it does, it does not last for very long.
"Coach is happy when we do what he thinks we need to do," Walters said. "I'm sure he's happy with the winning right now, but he's not happy because we're not playing our best. Winning is great, but later on down the road we need to be playing our best; we need to start playing that way now."
Tortorello has no problems with her coach's feedback about her play, and often times agrees with it.
"He's right on the button," Tortorello said after a blowout victory over Northwestern Saturday night, less than twelve hours before the team's scheduled practice at 8 the next morning.
"To the layperson who watches it, Sam's terrific -- and she is terrific," Rose said. "But the way I look at it is Sam's somebody that I should coach to wanna be the best player in the country. I'm sure there are things I say that others think are incredibly harsh, when I just look at it as the standard. I wouldn't say it to somebody if they weren't capable of being really good. I'm not saying it to the people at the end of the bench that are just there waiting for the next Nike handouts."
Likewise, Rose wouldn't demand so much of his team if he didn't think it was capable of delivering results. As the Lions head into tonight's match with the Buckeyes, they are likely to come out victorious, but that outcome alone may not satisfy Rose when he gives his team the post-match assessment.
"Coach does a really good job of motivating us," Walters said. "He doesn't bring us down, he just tells it the way he sees it -- which is what any good coach would do."
And if Rose didn't do that, then it might really be cause for concern.
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