Worth the replay?
Tuesday, January 20'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 →- #1Miami OHatKent StateCBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback15/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #2UNLVatUtah StateCBB· FS1Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+74/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback19/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74
- #3Oklahoma StatTCUCBB· 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
- #4PurdueatUCLACBB· PeacockDown 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
- #5GeorgiaatMissouriCBB· SEC NetworkDown to the wireBack and forthB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback14/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70
- #6NC StateatClemsonCBB· ACC NetworkOvertimeDown to the wireB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings24/25Comeback11/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Overtime+8Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70
- #7Florida StatMiamiCBB· ESPNUDown to the wireBig comebackB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70
- #8Seton HallatSt John'sCBB· FS1Down to the wireBig comebackB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70
- #9MinnesotaatOhio StateCBB· BTNOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forthB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback8/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70
- #10Ball StateatC MichiganCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forthB62/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback6/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62
- #11UtahatKansas StCBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBack and forthB61/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings19/25Comeback8/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61
- #12ToledoatUMassCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forthB59/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings18/25Comeback6/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59
- #13RutgersatIowaCBB· BTNDown to the wireBack and forthB58/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings20/25Comeback2/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58
- #14Saint LouisatDuquesneCBB· 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
- #15Mid Atl ChrstnatSC StateCBBC+46/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension29/30Swings12/25Comeback0/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46
- #16AuburnatOle MissCBB· ESPNUC+45/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension27/30Swings15/25Comeback2/20Decided late11/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 60 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45
- #17Loyola ChicagoatSt BonaventureCBB· ESPN+Big comebackC45/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension15/30Swings25/25Comeback14/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 60 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45
- #18KansasatColoradoCBB· ESPNDown to the wireC43/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings15/25Comeback0/20Decided late10/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 57 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 43
- #19N IllinoisatOhioCBB· ESPN+C41/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension23/30Swings14/25Comeback0/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 41
- #20DePaulatButlerCBB· truTVD25/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension6/30Swings18/25Comeback2/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 34 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25
- #21OklahomaatSouth CarolinaCBB· SEC NetworkD24/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension13/30Swings18/25Comeback2/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 24
- #22Boise StatWyomingCBBD22/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension6/30Swings15/25Comeback6/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22
- #23Michigan StatOregonCBB· FS1D21/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension2/30Swings18/25Comeback3/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21
- #24SMUatWake ForestCBB· ACC NetworkOne-sidedD18/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension3/30Swings15/25Comeback4/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18
- #25VanderbiltatArkansasCBB· ESPNOne-sidedD11/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings13/25Comeback1/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11
- #26UT MartinatSE MissouriCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD10/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings13/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10
- #27UCFatIowa StateCBB· CBSSNOne-sidedD10/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension11/30Swings2/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10
- #28Bowling GreenatW MichiganCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD9/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings12/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 12 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9
- #29Texas TechatBaylorCBB· PeacockOne-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
- #30EvansvilleatUICCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD5/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings5/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5
- #31AkronatBuffaloCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD3/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings4/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 4 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 3
- #32LSUatFloridaCBB· ESPN2One-sidedD2/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings3/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 2
- #33VA LynchburgatMorgan 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
- #34IndianaatMichiganCBB· PeacockOne-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
- #35Air ForceatColorado StCBBOne-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
- #36San José StatNevadaCBBOne-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.