Worth the replay?
Tuesday, December 30'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 →- #1DuquesneatDavidsonCBB· 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
- #2Seton HallatMarquetteCBB· FS1Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+72/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback17/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72
- #3W MichiganatToledoCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackB+71/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback17/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71
- #4San FranciscoatOregon StCBB· ESPN+Back and forthB+67/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback11/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67
- #5Santa ClaraatPortlandCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forthB65/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback8/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65
- #6PittatMiamiCBB· ACC NetworkBack and forthB64/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback13/20Decided late8/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64
- #7SE LouisianaatIncarnate WordCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireB64/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback12/20Decided late12/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64
- #8VermontatPrincetonCBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireB64/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback5/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Overtime+8Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64
- #9UMassatE MichiganCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireB60/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings18/25Comeback9/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60
- #10NevadaatColorado StCBBDown to the wireB57/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback9/20Decided late9/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57
- #11PacificatLMUCBB· ESPN+B56/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension27/30Swings23/25Comeback9/20Decided late9/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56
- #12New MexicoatBoise StCBB· FS1Big comebackBack and forthC+54/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension19/30Swings25/25Comeback15/20Decided late3/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54
- #13Notre DameatStanfordCBB· ESPN2C+50/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension27/30Swings18/25Comeback8/20Decided late13/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50
- #14San Diego StatSan José StCBB· CBSSNC42/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings17/25Comeback0/20Decided late7/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42
- #15TempleatCharlotteCBB· ESPN+C41/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension27/30Swings15/25Comeback0/20Decided late13/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 41
- #16Washington StatSeattle UCBB· ESPN+D32/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension23/30Swings12/25Comeback0/20Decided late5/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32
- #17OhioatC MichiganCBB· ESPN+D29/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension9/30Swings17/25Comeback5/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 29
- #18Tennessee StatTennessee TechCBB· ESPN+D29/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension4/30Swings19/25Comeback10/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 29
- #19WyomingatAir ForceCBBD28/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension19/30Swings15/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 37 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28
- #20Miami OHatBowling GreenCBB· ESPN+D22/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension7/30Swings14/25Comeback7/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22
- #21ButleratCreightonCBB· FS1D21/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension13/30Swings15/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21
- #22Florida StatNorth CarolinaCBB· ESPN2One-sidedD12/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension4/30Swings10/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 16 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12
- #23Utah StateatFresno StCBBOne-sidedD9/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension10/30Swings2/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 12 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9
- #24HowardatNorthwesternCBB· BTNOne-sidedD9/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension2/30Swings5/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 12 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9
- #25ETSUatThe CitadelCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD4/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings3/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 6 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 4
- #26New HampshireatNebraskaCBB· BTNOne-sidedD4/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings0/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 5 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 4
- #27LouisvilleatCaliforniaCBB· ACC NetworkOne-sidedD3/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension2/30Swings2/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 4 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 3
- #28GonzagaatSan DiegoCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD3/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension4/30Swings0/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 4 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 3
- #29ME Fort KentatMaineCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD2/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings0/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 2
- #30PSU BrandywineatMorgan StCBBOne-sidedD2/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings0/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 2
- #31Lincoln (CA)atLong Beach StCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD2/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings0/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 2
- #32Huston TillatTexas SouthernCBB· YouTubeOne-sidedD1/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension1/30Swings0/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 1 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 1
- #33MilwaukeeatWisconsinCBB· BTNOne-sidedD0/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings0/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 0
- #34Saint Mary'satPepperdineCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD0/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings0/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 0
- #35SC StateatTennesseeCBB· SEC NetworkOne-sidedD0/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings0/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 0
- #36Centenary (LA)atGramblingCBBOne-sidedD0/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings0/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 0
- #37UAlbanyatSouth CarolinaCBB· SEC NetworkOne-sidedD0/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings0/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 0
- #38FiskatAlabama A&MCBBOne-sidedD0/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings0/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 0
- #39Arkansas TechatArkansas StCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD0/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings0/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 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.