This is all a load of crap. The vast majority of Tennessee fans don't attend basketball games, and it's ridiculous to hold the students to a different standard. Basketball is just less popular, in the same way that all the other university sports besides football are even less popular than basketball. You're going to blame a bunch of college kids for not being interested in basketball?
I don't recall basketball fandom and devotion to supporting the tiny number of college athletes in high profile sports being a requirement to attend the university. UT is a school, not a holding camp for fans. Basketball is only one tiny portion of life at UT.
If you're truly concerned about attendance, buy season tickets for your family and all your friends and put your own butts in the seats. Some of you people can literally b**** about anything...