Worth the replay?

Friday, January 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 →
  1. #1
    MaristatCanisius
    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
    Sacred HeartatQuinnipiac
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

  3. #3
    FairfieldatIona
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  4. #4
    RaptorsatMagic
    NBA· ESPNDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

  5. #5
    Cleveland StatGreen Bay
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  6. #6
    NetsatJazz
    NBABack and forth
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

  7. #7
    RideratManhattan
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

  8. #8
    GA SouthernatUL Monroe
    CBBDown to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

  9. #9
    IU IndyatYoungstown St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

  10. #10
    MichiganatMichigan St
    CBB· FoxDown to the wire
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 52

  11. #11
    Mount St MarysatSaint Peter's
    CBB· ESPNUBack and forth
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  12. #12
    PennatColumbia
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

  13. #13
    PistonsatWarriors
    NBA· ESPNDown to the wire
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

  14. #14
    Wright StatMilwaukee
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 41

  15. #15
    ClippersatNuggets
    NBA
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 50 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 38

  16. #16
    N KentuckyatDetroit Mercy
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  17. #17
    GrizzliesatPelicans
    NBA
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension13/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

  18. #18
    HarvardatBrown
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 31

  19. #19
    Blue JacketsatBlackhawks
    NHL· NHL Net
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  20. #20
    CavaliersatSuns
    NBA
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

  21. #21
    Boise StatGrand Canyon
    CBB· FS1
    D
    19/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

  22. #22
    RiceatCharlotte
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

  23. #23
    Loyola ChicagoatVCU
    CBB· ESPN2One-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

  24. #24
    SienaatNiagara
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension8/30
    Swings5/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

  25. #25
    DartmouthatYale
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

  26. #26
    PrincetonatCornell
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  27. #27
    ProvidenceatVillanova
    CBB· FS1One-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings5/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

  28. #28
    Kent StateatAkron
    CBB· CBSSNOne-sided
    D
    3/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings3/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 4 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 3

  29. #29
    UNLVatNevada
    CBB· CBSSNOne-sided
    D
    3/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings3/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 4 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 3

  30. #30
    Trail BlazersatKnicks
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    3/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings3/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 3

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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