Worth the replay?

Sunday, December 14'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
    High PointatApp State
    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

  2. #2
    TroyatUAB
    CBB· ESPN2Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74

  3. #3
    BuffaloatEast Carolina
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ 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) = 71

  4. #4
    Kent StateatPortland
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  5. #5
    North TexasatSouth Alabama
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  6. #6
    Indiana StatMilwaukee
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  7. #7
    CharlotteatCharleston
    CBBDown to the wire
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  8. #8
    Ball StateatCampbell
    CBBDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

  9. #9
    MonmouthatFairfield
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  10. #10
    Saint Mary'satBoise St
    CBB
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  11. #11
    Detroit MercyatPurdue FW
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  12. #12
    Washington StatUSC
    CBB· FS1
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

  13. #13
    MerrimackatVermont
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39

  14. #14
    Chicago StatLoyola Chicago
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    D
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35

  15. #15
    N Central (IL)atBradley
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  16. #16
    FGCUatNew Mexico
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  17. #17
    Coppin StatRadford
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings5/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

  18. #18
    EurekaatSIUE
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  19. #19
    MD EasternatVirginia Tech
    CBB· ACCNXOne-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

  20. #20
    E IllinoisatIowa State
    CBB· ESPN+One-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

  21. #21
    QueensatWake 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

  22. #22
    Saint FrancisatTemple
    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

  23. #23
    Texas SouthernatMinnesota
    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

  24. #24
    Oakland CityatCleveland 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

  25. #25
    BethuneatMissouri
    CBB· SEC NetworkOne-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

  26. #26
    ThielatYoungstown 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

  27. #27
    Saint XavieratSE Missouri
    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

  28. #28
    Northern NMatColorado St
    CBBOne-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

  29. #29
    W MichiganatIowa
    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

  30. #30
    EvergreenatIdaho
    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

  31. #31
    Champ ChrstnatUT Martin
    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

  32. #32
    JacksonvilleatTexas A&M
    CBB· SEC NetworkOne-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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