Worth the replay?
Tuesday, November 25'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 WashingtonatNorth TexasCBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #2Tennessee StatUNC AshevilleCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+73/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback18/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73
- #3RiceatFGCUCBBOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackB+73/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Overtime+8Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73
- #4Portland StatUtah TechCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+71/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback15/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71
- #5Murray StatG WashingtonCBBDown 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
- #6Coppin StatRiderCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback18/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70
- #7Kennesaw StatOral RobertsCBBDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+69/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback18/20Decided late12/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69
- #8TowsonatLibertyCBB· ESPN2Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+69/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings21/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69
- #9Stony BrookatBethuneCBBDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+68/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings19/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68
- #10UCLAatCaliforniaCBB· ESPNBig comebackBack and forthB+68/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback16/20Decided late12/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68
- #11Washington StatArizona StCBB· ESPNDown to the wireBack and forthB+67/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback12/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67
- #12Hou ChristianatBellarmineCBBDown to the wireBack and forthB+67/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings21/25Comeback12/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67
- #13Seton HallatUSCCBB· ESPNDown to the wireB+65/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback12/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65
- #14TennesseeatHoustonCBB· TNTDown to the wireBig comebackB64/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings20/25Comeback15/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64
- #15Ole MissatIowaCBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBack and forthB59/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings20/25Comeback8/20Decided late11/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59
- #16UC San DiegoatBradleyCBB· ESPN2B59/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings21/25Comeback12/20Decided late13/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59
- #17MTSUatMcNeeseCBBB55/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings21/25Comeback11/20Decided late6/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55
- #18TempleatPrincetonCBB· ESPNUC+49/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension29/30Swings17/25Comeback5/20Decided late9/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 49
- #19UTSAatGA SouthernCBBBig comebackBack and forthC+48/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension15/30Swings25/25Comeback15/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48
- #20UNC GreensboroatDelawareCBBBig comebackC+48/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension16/30Swings23/25Comeback15/20Decided late4/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48
- #21WinthropatNebraskaCBB· BTNBack and forthC+47/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension25/30Swings14/25Comeback0/20Decided late14/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47
- #22HamptonatMD EasternCBBC44/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension26/30Swings16/25Comeback1/20Decided late12/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 58 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44
- #23OaklandatMontanaCBB· ESPN+C42/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension15/30Swings22/25Comeback11/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42
- #24QuinnipiacatUCFCBB· ESPN+Back and forthC40/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension16/30Swings22/25Comeback6/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40
- #25DrexelatMorgan StCBBC39/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension26/30Swings13/25Comeback0/20Decided late13/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39
- #26SyracuseatKansasCBB· TNTDown to the wireC39/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings15/25Comeback0/20Decided late6/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39
- #27George MasonatFAUCBB· CBSSNC38/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension25/30Swings11/25Comeback0/20Decided late14/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 50 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 38
- #28San DiegoatCA BaptistCBB· CBSSNC38/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension7/30Swings25/25Comeback13/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 50 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 38
- #29RutgersatNotre DameCBB· TNTC37/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension27/30Swings13/25Comeback0/20Decided late6/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37
- #30New Mexico StatUC IrvineCBBC36/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension16/30Swings19/25Comeback7/20Decided late3/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36
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.