Worth the replay?

Wednesday, December 3'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
    CoastalatSC Upstate
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    AR-Pine BluffatUIC
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  3. #3
    MarshallatUNC Wilmington
    CBBDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  4. #4
    North AlabamaatSan Francisco
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  5. #5
    S IllinoisatHigh Point
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

  6. #6
    PistonsatBucks
    NBADown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

  7. #7
    New HampshireatDartmouth
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

  8. #8
    RichmondatBelmont
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

  9. #9
    DrexelatAmerican
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

  10. #10
    JetsatCanadiens
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

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

  11. #11
    Wright StatYoungstown St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  12. #12
    NC CentralatJames Madison
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  13. #13
    IndianaatMinnesota
    CBB· BTNBig comeback
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  14. #14
    E WashingtonatDenver
    CBBDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

  15. #15
    St ThomasatMontana St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

  16. #16
    Tennessee TechatLipscomb
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

  17. #17
    Texas StatRice
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

  18. #18
    Sacred HeartatMount St Marys
    CBB· ESPN+
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

  19. #19
    N ColoradoatOmaha
    CBBDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

  20. #20
    ClemsonatAlabama
    CBB· ESPNUDown to the wire
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

  21. #21
    SpursatMagic
    NBADown to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

  22. #22
    UCLAatWashington
    CBB· BTNDown to the wire
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  23. #23
    FGCUatFIU
    CBB· ESPN+
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  24. #24
    N Dakota StatMontana
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

  25. #25
    Southern MissatRadford
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

  26. #26
    Austin PeayatKent State
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 52

  27. #27
    PresbyterianatWofford
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

  28. #28
    Ball StateatEvansville
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  29. #29
    Idaho StatKansas City
    CBBBack and forth
    C+
    49/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension24/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 49

  30. #30
    HofstraatColumbia
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

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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