Worth the replay?
Tuesday, November 18'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 →- #1E MichiganatDetroit MercyCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback20/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #2MD EasternatLongwoodCBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback17/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #3SouthernatWashingtonCBB· PeacockOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback19/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #4TroyatSan Diego StCBBOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback19/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #5SF AustinatFresno StCBBDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+72/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72
- #6WinthropatArkansasCBB· SECN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+71/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback14/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71
- #7UC DavisatNevadaCBBDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback17/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70
- #8VermontatBuffaloCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forthB+65/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings21/25Comeback11/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65
- #9Rhode IslandatYaleCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackB64/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback16/20Decided late9/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64
- #10GrizzliesatSpursNBA· NBC/PeacockDown to the wireBack and forthB63/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback7/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63
- #11BluesatMaple LeafsNHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireB62/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings18/25Comeback6/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth7/10Overtime+8Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62
- #12TowsonatJames MadisonCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireB61/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings20/25Comeback13/20Decided late13/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61
- #13NC A&TatMorgan StCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forthB61/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings21/25Comeback4/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61
- #14AkronatBowling GreenCFB· ESPNUDown to the wireBack and forthB59/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings16/25Comeback13/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 59
- #15UT ArlingtonatEvansvilleCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireB57/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings20/25Comeback9/20Decided late9/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57
- #16MammothatSharksNHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireB56/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings19/25Comeback0/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth3/10Overtime+8Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56
- #17PistonsatHawksNBADown to the wireC+53/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings19/25Comeback5/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53
- #18GA SouthernatGeorgia TechCBB· ACCNXDown to the wireC+50/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings17/25Comeback1/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50
- #19LSU N OrleansatPepperdineCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireC+48/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings19/25Comeback0/20Decided late13/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48
- #20Boston UatColumbiaCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireC+47/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings17/25Comeback0/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47
- #21GramblingatSan DiegoCBB· ESPN+C45/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension26/30Swings17/25Comeback2/20Decided late12/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 60 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45
- #22CelticsatNetsNBABack and forthC44/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension22/30Swings18/25Comeback2/20Decided late6/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 59 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44
- #23MonmouthatSyracuseCBB· ACC NetworkC42/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension25/30Swings11/25Comeback0/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42
- #24KrakenatRed WingsNHL· ESPN+C42/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension20/30Swings18/25Comeback7/20Decided late4/15Back-and-forth7/10Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42
- #25PresbyterianatCaliforniaCBB· ACCNXC40/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension28/30Swings12/25Comeback0/20Decided late6/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40
- #26KansasatDukeCBB· ESPNC40/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension29/30Swings15/25Comeback0/20Decided late7/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40
- #27FlamesatBlackhawksNHL· ESPN+C37/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension20/30Swings22/25Comeback0/20Decided late4/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 50 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37
- #28Wichita StatBoise StCBBC36/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension23/30Swings15/25Comeback2/20Decided late5/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36
- #29N IllinoisatNorthern IowaCBB· ESPN+C36/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension22/30Swings13/25Comeback0/20Decided late5/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36
- #30MontanaatTexas A&MCBB· SECN+D34/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension23/30Swings7/25Comeback0/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34
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.