Worth the replay?

Sunday, November 16's games ranked by how good they turned out to be: late drama, comebacks, lead swaps and overtime. No scores, no winners, so you can decide what to watch without spoilers.

Best games of the season →
  1. #1
    WagneratUMBC
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

  2. #2
    Wright StatKent State
    CBBOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

  3. #3
    SamfordatC Arkansas
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

  4. #4
    RadfordatCleveland St
    CBBDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

  5. #5
    W MichiganatSouth Dakota
    CBBDown to the wire
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

  6. #6
    Holy CrossatHampton
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

  7. #7
    PresbyterianatSacramento St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

  8. #8
    HarvardatMarist
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

  9. #9
    QuinnipiacatMaine
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

  10. #10
    TroyatCSU Northridge
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  11. #11
    Notre DameatOhio State
    CBB· FS1Down to the wire
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

  12. #12
    LindenwoodatAlabama A&M
    CBB
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

  13. #13
    HoustonatAuburn
    CBB· ESPNDown to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

  14. #14
    Loyola MDatFairfield
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

  15. #15
    Illinois StatLong Beach St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50

  16. #16
    CharlotteatVirginia Tech
    CBB· ACCNX
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39

  17. #17
    UNLVatMemphis
    CBB· ESPNBig comeback
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37

  18. #18
    App StateatDartmouth
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33

  19. #19
    BryantatValparaiso
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 37 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

  20. #20
    Mount St MarysatCincinnati
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 24

  21. #21
    StetsonatW Carolina
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

  22. #22
    South FloridaatKennesaw St
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16

  23. #23
    Tennessee StatWestern KY
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension13/30
    Swings6/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16

  24. #24
    MiamiatFlorida
    CBB· ESPNOne-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

  25. #25
    Incarnate WordatIndiana
    CBB· BTNOne-sided
    D
    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension12/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11

  26. #26
    C ConnecticutatUMass
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9

  27. #27
    Texas A&M-CCatOklahoma St
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings6/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

  28. #28
    Colorado StatLoyola Chicago
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings5/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

  29. #29
    CumberlandsatN Kentucky
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    4/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 5 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 4

  30. #30
    UMass LowellatWake Forest
    CBB· ACCNXOne-sided
    D
    2/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 2

  31. #31
    AkronatPurdue
    CBB· BTNOne-sided
    D
    0/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 0

  32. #32
    KCUatMorehead St
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    0/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 0

  33. #33
    MahattanvilleatFordham
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    0/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 0

Ranked from each game's win probability as it was played (ESPN's for football and basketball; ours, from the goals, for hockey): how in doubt it was near the end, how far the winner came back from, how late it was decided, how big its momentum swings were and how often a team erased a deficit, with a bonus for overtime. That drama is then weighted by how good a matchup it was going in (its pre-game Watchability score), so a thriller between top teams ranks above an equally wild game between minor ones.

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