March is a time most college basketball fans dream about, signifying one of the most exciting times of the sports calendar. University students begin their own form of March Madness today as basketball intramural playoffs begin at the University Student Recreation Complex.  The single elimination tournament, which runs through March 12, will be split between the outdoor UREC courts and University High School’s gymnasium. Teams were required to have at least a .500 winning percentage and a 2.0 sportsmanship rating in order to qualify for the playoffs. Matt Boyer, assistant director of leagues and tournaments, said every team is eligible to play in regional tournaments, but the UREC traditionally selects the winners of the playoffs to represent the University. This year is different because this weekend’s deadline to submit teams for the regional tournament will have already passed before the UREC can announce a champion on March 12. “The deadline [to enter teams in the regional tournament] is actually this coming weekend … so we can’t determine who our top teams are yet,” he said. The Super Bowl and Mardi Gras break have caused the UREC to delay the playoffs. The Sunday league’s regular season was scheduled to start on Feb. 1 but had to be pushed back a week because of the Super Bowl.  The playoffs would have started last week but the UREC was forced to move it to this week because of the Mardi Gras holiday.  Boyer said the delay makes him unsure whether the University will have representatives in the regional tournament. The UREC will decide if any teams are eligible. “If they want to go, they can talk to us, but we won’t just say they are going automatically,” he said. “It’s pretty much up to them to find their own way.” He said the UREC would cover the entry fee, but teams would be responsible for their own travel, hotel and food expenses. Boyer said the regular season ran smoothly for the most part. “There hasn’t been a whole lot of issues,” he said. “There were a few cold nights in the beginning, but for the most part people are enjoying it. It’s a different environment to play in than the typical hardwood floors and nice comfort of a gymnasium.”–Contact Sean Isabella at [email protected]