Worth the replay?
Saturday, February 7'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 →- #1IllinoisatMichigan StCBB· FoxOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback14/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #2WisconsinatIndianaCBB· FoxOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback19/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #3UMassatCoastalCBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback18/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #4MTSUatDelawareCBB· 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
- #5MD EasternatMorgan StCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback20/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #6Seattle UatPortlandCBB· ESPN+Down 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
- #7JazzatMagicNBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+74/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings24/25Comeback20/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74
- #8Charleston SoatSC UpstateCBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forthB+74/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback13/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74
- #9LehighatHoly CrossCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackB+73/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback20/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73
- #10Seton HallatCreightonCBB· PeacockDown to the wireBig comebackB+72/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback19/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72
- #11South DakotaatS Dakota StCBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+72/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback15/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72
- #12Robert MorrisatYoungstown StCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackB+71/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback18/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71
- #13Kent StateatSouthern MissCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackB+71/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback19/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71
- #14NiagaraatQuinnipiacCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+71/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback14/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71
- #15TennesseeatKentuckyCBB· ESPNDown to the wireBig comebackB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings24/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70
- #16CavaliersatKingsNBADown to the wireBack and forthB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback13/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70
- #17E WashingtonatMontana StCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback18/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70
- #18St BonaventureatFordhamCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forthB+69/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback12/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69
- #19William & MaryatHamptonCBBDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+69/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback15/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69
- #20OhioatOld DominionCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forthB+68/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback13/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68
- #21The CitadelatChattanoogaCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+68/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings19/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68
- #22RocketsatThunderNBA· ABCDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+68/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings19/25Comeback17/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68
- #23GrizzliesatTrail BlazersNBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+68/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings21/25Comeback17/20Decided late13/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68
- #24N IllinoisatGeorgia StCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackB+67/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings21/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67
- #25Saint FrancisatLe MoyneCBBDown to the wireB+67/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback12/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67
- #26HornetsatHawksNBADown to the wireBack 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
- #27Kansas StatTCUCBB· TNTDown to the wireBig comebackB+66/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66
- #28G WashingtonatDuquesneCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forthB+66/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings20/25Comeback13/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66
- #29Morehead StatUT MartinCBB· ESPNUDown to the wireBig comebackB+66/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings19/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66
- #30MercyhurstatFDUCBBDown to the wireB65/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback9/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65
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.