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 →- #1ManhattanatQuinnipiacCBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback18/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #2ProvidenceatMarquetteCBB· FS1OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback19/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #3BethuneatAR-Pine BluffCBBOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings24/25Comeback18/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #4Prairie ViewatAlcorn StCBBDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+72/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72
- #5StonehillatSaint FrancisCBBDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+72/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72
- #6PrincetonatDartmouthCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+72/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72
- #7N'Western StatHou ChristianCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+71/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71
- #8DrexelatTowsonCBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comebackB+69/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback17/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69
- #9Alabama A&MatAlabama StCBBDown to the wireBack and forthB+66/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback11/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66
- #10Loyola MDatLehighCBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBack and forthB+66/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback10/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66
- #11G WashingtonatGeorge MasonCBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBack and forthB64/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback7/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64
- #12New HavenatChicago StCBBDown to the wireBig comebackB64/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback14/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64
- #13Saint Joseph'satVCUCBB· CBSSNBack and forthB58/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension28/30Swings20/25Comeback5/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58
- #14PennatHarvardCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireB57/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings18/25Comeback5/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57
- #15SE LouisianaatUT Rio GrandeCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireC+50/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings17/25Comeback0/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50
- #16Texas SouthernatJackson StCBBC42/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension26/30Swings16/25Comeback1/20Decided late11/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42
- #17MorehouseatHowardCBB· ESPN+C40/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension26/30Swings8/25Comeback0/20Decided late14/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40
- #18Montana StatN ColoradoCBB· ESPN+C40/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension15/30Swings20/25Comeback13/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40
- #19VermontatUAlbanyCBB· ESPNUC39/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension15/30Swings21/25Comeback13/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 51 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39
- #20NortheasternatMonmouthCBB· CBSSNC36/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension3/30Swings25/25Comeback13/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36
- #21Long IslandatLe MoyneCBBD35/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension18/30Swings18/25Comeback5/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35
- #22LamaratLSU N OrleansCBB· ESPN+D32/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension10/30Swings19/25Comeback7/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32
- #23WagneratFDUCBB· ESPN+D32/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension15/30Swings17/25Comeback1/20Decided late2/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32
- #24IonaatSaint Peter'sCBB· ESPN+D29/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension2/30Swings22/25Comeback10/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 39 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 29
- #25Mount St MarysatNiagaraCBB· ESPN+D29/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension3/30Swings22/25Comeback12/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 39 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 29
- #26East Texas A&MatIncarnate WordCBB· ESPN+D27/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension1/30Swings18/25Comeback14/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 27
- #27MerrimackatMaristCBB· ESPN+D25/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension2/30Swings18/25Comeback11/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25
- #28NC A&TatHamptonCBB· CBSSND19/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension4/30Swings15/25Comeback4/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19
- #29BryantatNJITCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD17/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension1/30Swings14/25Comeback2/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17
- #30CornellatBrownCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD16/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension1/30Swings15/25Comeback3/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16
- #31McNeeseatTexas A&M-CCCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD14/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension3/30Swings13/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14
- #32New HampshireatMaineCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD14/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension2/30Swings10/25Comeback7/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14
- #33Sacred HeartatRiderCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD11/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings12/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11
- #34C ConnecticutatMercyhurstCBBOne-sidedD10/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension1/30Swings8/25Comeback2/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10
- #35UMBCatBinghamtonCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD10/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension2/30Swings9/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10
- #36FairfieldatSienaCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD7/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension5/30Swings5/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7
- #37MontanaatN ArizonaCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD6/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings8/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6
- #38SF AustinatNichollsCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD5/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings7/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5
- #39Elizabeth CityatNorfolk StCBB· ESPN+One-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
- #40ColumbiaatYaleCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD4/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension1/30Swings4/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 5 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 4
- #41Florida A&MatMiss Valley StCBBOne-sidedD2/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension2/30Swings0/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 2 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 2
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.