Worth the replay?

Thursday, February 12'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
    Louisiana TechatMissouri St
    CBB· CBSSNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    UC IrvineatCal Poly
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  3. #3
    Detroit MercyatWright St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  4. #4
    St ThomasatOmaha
    CBBDown 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

  5. #5
    MTSUatKennesaw St
    CBB· CBSSNDown 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

  6. #6
    MemphisatNorth Texas
    CBB· ESPNDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  7. #7
    FullertonatLong Beach St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  8. #8
    UT MartinatLindenwood
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  9. #9
    UNC AshevilleatLongwood
    CBB· ESPNU/ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  10. #10
    Tennessee StatS Indiana
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

  11. #11
    DelawareatFIU
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  12. #12
    Georgia StatJames Madison
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

  13. #13
    UT ArlingtonatAbilene Chrstn
    CBB· ESPNUBack and forth
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  14. #14
    Youngstown StatOakland
    CBB· ESPN+Big comebackBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  15. #15
    UICatDrake
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

  16. #16
    Northern IowaatBelmont
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  17. #17
    MercyhurstatLe Moyne
    CBBDown to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

  18. #18
    N KentuckyatIU Indy
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  19. #19
    Long IslandatWagner
    CBBDown to the wire
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  20. #20
    Santa BarbaraatUC Riverside
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

  21. #21
    HofstraatCharleston
    CBBDown to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  22. #22
    VermontatBinghamton
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48

  23. #23
    Utah ValleyatUtah Tech
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  24. #24
    CoastalatLouisiana
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

  25. #25
    Trail BlazersatJazz
    NBA
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

  26. #26
    Saint FrancisatFDU
    CBB
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  27. #27
    Portland StatN Arizona
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  28. #28
    South AlabamaatSouthern Miss
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  29. #29
    NJITatNew Hampshire
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension12/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 51 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 38

  30. #30
    Murray StatIndiana St
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

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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