I'm a bigger UT basketball fan than football fan. Always have been, even when Wade, KO, and Buzz were sabotaging our program for years. With that said, I think Bruce Pearl is obviously the best thing to happen to UT sports overall since his arrival. He is a great marketer, coach, and motivator.
All that said, if Pearl is fired, it's his own fault. I hope he stays and grows past this and becomes a better person and coach because of it. I will fault UT zero if he is fired. What has come out already is enough to warrant consideration.
Your perspective is a little short-sighted. UT basketball will survive this, Pearl or no Pearl. I hope he survives this, but will continue to support that program without regard to the coach. No different than those that chose not to support Kiffin of Dooley because of their loyalty to Fulmer. There is nothing wrong with being a fan of a coach, but to allow that loyalty to blind your overall loyalty to the program calls in question your fandom to begin with. The same can be said for those that do not support the program because they don't like Pearl. I do not support Barack Obama's government takeover, but it doesn't mean I am any less a fan of America.