Vermont's 2010 NCAA Tournament Run
Vermont's Marqus Blakely goes into the crowd against Syracuse during the second half of their NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament game in Buffalo, New York, March 19, 2010. Reuters

Here's how to live stream tonight NCAA Tournament games between California and the University of South Florida and Vermont and Lamar online.

As we all await the start of March Madness, there is still college basketball to be watched, beginning tonight with the matchup between the University of Vermont and Lamar University at 6:40 p.m., and the following showdown between USF and Cal tonight at 9:10 p.m. tonight.

These two games are preliminary play-in games to get a spot in the main bracket games which begin Thursday.

Vermont ended up with a 23-11 record this season, as did Lamar, and the game should be a big showdown as the two team's players have fought all year for the glory of a single real NCAA Tournament game.

USF ended the season with a 20-13 record, but that includes a great 12-6 Big East showing that includes a win Feb. 29 over then-#18 Louisville (a four-seed in the tourney).

So Cal should be worried about tonight's game, though the Bears have a none-too-shabby 24-9 record and average more than 12 points more per game than USF does.

These should both be scrappy games by teams fighting for their seasons, and here's how to watch them online via live stream:

Simply visit this link to get to truTV's streaming page, then log in if you are a truTV subscriber, or pay the nominal fee to watch the games if you are not. It's that simple to enjoy the start of March Madness from the comfort of your computer, iPad, iPhone or Android-equipped device.