Reading between the lines is a tricky, oftentimes dangerous exercise when trying to comprehend stories like the one about Jeremy Glover, Diamond Taylor and the University of Wisconsin men's basketball team.

There are too many passages where a wrong impression, a suspicious mind or a or personal bias could get you into trouble. So, unless you have an unbiased narrator, it's best to proceed with caution.

What's known is Glover, a preferred walk-on guard from Haymarket, Va., and Taylor, a scholarship freshman guard from Bolingbrook, Ill., were arrested Sept. 6 on charges of burglary and underage drinking. UW Police say the two admitted to entering unlocked dorm rooms without permission, making off with iPods, a cell phone and more than $400 in cash.

What's known is the two 18-year-olds were immediately suspended, per the UW Athletic Department's student-athlete discipline policy, by athletic director Barry Alvarez.

What's known is Taylor has since withdrawn from school and Glover has been dismissed from the men's basketball team for violating said student-athlete discipline policy, though he remains enrolled as a student.

It's another clip-and-save moment for current and prospective student-athletes at UW. One poor, selfish decision can lead to excruciating consequences.

Less than 48 hours after Taylor and Glover reportedly were told in a team meeting to be safe and use good judgment over the Labor Day weekend, the two were in the Dane County Jail. Either they didn't listen or thought they knew better.

A couple of things from the 10-day timeline bug me.

Start with the timing of Wednesday's news release that Glover had been dismissed. The obvious between-the-lines message is he's guilty of something serious. At the very least, why not wait until after their court appearance Monday when pleas are expected to be entered?

Something else: When Taylor and Glover first appeared in Dane County Court last week, no one was there representing the men's basketball team. Why not?

We often hear how teams become families and everyone has to stick together, especially in the face of adversity. Looking out for the youngest members, who are still learning the ropes, is paramount.

There's this whole innocent-until-proven-guilty thing.

I'm not saying UW men's coach Bo Ryan had to be there, but someone from the team should have.

Look, I get it that on the surface Taylor and Glover caused embarrassment for the program and, at some level, people within it are going to be resentful. The newcomers haven't been around long enough to cultivate serious bonds with teammates or support staffers, either.

But until the case runs its course and all the facts come out, why not have their backs?

According to Alvarez, there are no specific guidelines for situations like this. UW coaches are free to handle them as they see fit.

Asked how he dealt with such matters during 16 years as Badgers football coach, Alvarez said he made a point of staying away, although he wouldn't have discouraged someone else from the team making a supportive appearance in court.

"I just didn't feel like that was my responsibility," he said.

Maybe so, but if that were my player -- or my child -- I would want a different approach.

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