Your Eyes Aren't Fooling You -- That Really Is UConn Coach Geno Auriemma Slapping an Opposing Female Coach on the Butt

Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, center, pats Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey on her backside before their NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. Credit: AP

No, your eyes aren't fooling you. The picture above really does show UConn women's head basketball Geno Auriemma patting (or using a "slap" as would later be described) the behind of Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey before Monday night's game. And if you thought that was odd, wait until you hear the explanation.

Here's his explanation via local media:

"She was staring at my butt and she was commenting on it and I said, ‘Really? How about yours?’ and she went, `Yeah, look at it,’ and I went (slap), I’ll teach you a lesson,’’ Auriemma said, jokingly. `And then she started talking about how she only dated Italians her whole life and that she wanted me to set her up with some Italians and I said `The Italians I send to see you aren’t going to date you.’ We’ve had a long and great relationship since, gosh, she was an assistant at Louisiana Tech. It goes back a long ways.

“She’s just a big pain in the butt. That’s all there is to it.’’

Yahoo described it as one of the most bizarre photos of the year:

AP photographer Jessica Hill captured a shot of UConn coach Geno Auriemma patting Baylor coach Kim Mulkey on the backside before the start of the Bears' impressive 76-70 road victory. Everything about the photo is memorable, from Mulkey's stance, to Auriemma's laser focus, to the giggling assistant coaches in the background.

Baylor won the game, by the way.

(H/T: Deadspin)