Worth the replay?

Monday, January 19'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
    ManhattanatQuinnipiac
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    ProvidenceatMarquette
    CBB· FS1OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  3. #3
    BethuneatAR-Pine Bluff
    CBBOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  4. #4
    Prairie ViewatAlcorn St
    CBBDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72

  5. #5
    StonehillatSaint Francis
    CBBDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72

  6. #6
    PrincetonatDartmouth
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72

  7. #7
    N'Western StatHou Christian
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

  8. #8
    DrexelatTowson
    CBB· CBSSNDown 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

  9. #9
    Alabama A&MatAlabama St
    CBBDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  10. #10
    Loyola MDatLehigh
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  11. #11
    ClippersatWizards
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  12. #12
    G WashingtonatGeorge Mason
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  13. #13
    New HavenatChicago St
    CBBDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  14. #14
    CelticsatPistons
    NBA· NBC/PeacockDown 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 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

  15. #15
    Saint Joseph'satVCU
    CBB· CBSSNBack and forth
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  16. #16
    BucksatHawks
    NBA· PeacockDown to the wire
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

  17. #17
    PennatHarvard
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

  18. #18
    DevilsatFlames
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

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

  19. #19
    SE LouisianaatUT Rio Grande
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  20. #20
    Texas SouthernatJackson St
    CBB
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42

  21. #21
    MiamiatIndiana
    CFB· ESPN
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 42

  22. #22
    Pacersat76ers
    NBA
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 41

  23. #23
    MorehouseatHoward
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

  24. #24
    Montana StatN Colorado
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

  25. #25
    VermontatUAlbany
    CBB· ESPNU
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 51 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39

  26. #26
    FlyersatGolden Knights
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 50 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37

  27. #27
    NortheasternatMonmouth
    CBB· CBSSN
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

  28. #28
    Long IslandatLe Moyne
    CBB
    D
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35

  29. #29
    RangersatDucks
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

  30. #30
    LamaratLSU N Orleans
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32

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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