The combined struggles between the Pelicans and LSU only validates basketball's place as Louisiana's other sport.
No one ever said Louisiana was a basketball state.
With their failure to make the NCAA tournament and excluding themselves from any other postseason play, LSU officially ended one of the most disappointing seasons in school, and maybe college basketball as a whole, history; combine this with the Pelicans failing to ascend as so many thought they were primed to do after last season's postseason appearance and you have a statewide flop unlike any other.
Right now I'm reminded of when LSU football got shut out by Alabama in the 2012 BCS Title Game 21-0.