Worth the replay?

Tuesday, February 17'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
    Texas TechatArizona St
    CBB· ESPN2Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72

  2. #2
    N IllinoisatBuffalo
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  3. #3
    SE MissouriatUT Martin
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

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

  4. #4
    VillanovaatXavier
    CBB· FS1OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

  5. #5
    Boston CollegeatFlorida St
    CBB· ACC NetworkDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

  6. #6
    GeorgiaatKentucky
    CBB· ESPNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  7. #7
    Kent StateatBowling Green
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  8. #8
    Saint LouisatRhode Island
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  9. #9
    LouisvilleatSMU
    CBB· ESPN2Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  10. #10
    Virginia TechatMiami
    CBB· ACC NetworkDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

  11. #11
    Grand CanyonatSan Diego St
    CBB· CBSSN
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

  12. #12
    NebraskaatIowa
    CBB· BTNDown to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  13. #13
    LSUatTexas
    CBB· SEC Network
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension27/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 57 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 43

  14. #14
    G WashingtonatVCU
    CBB· CBSSN
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

  15. #15
    MinnesotaatOregon
    CBB· FS1
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

  16. #16
    Miami OHatUMass
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  17. #17
    Fresno StatWyoming
    CBB
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33

  18. #18
    NevadaatSan José St
    CBB
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 31

  19. #19
    MichiganatPurdue
    CBB· Peacock
    D
    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

  20. #20
    BayloratKansas St
    CBB· ESPN2One-sided
    D
    19/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

  21. #21
    C MichiganatE Michigan
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  22. #22
    Ball StateatOhio
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 17 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

  23. #23
    TCUatUCF
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings6/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

  24. #24
    WisconsinatOhio State
    CBB· FS1One-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

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

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

  26. #26
    North CarolinaatNC State
    CBB· ESPNOne-sided
    D
    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings6/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 6 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5

  27. #27
    Gardner-WebbatCharleston So
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    3/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  28. #28
    South CarolinaatFlorida
    CBB· SEC NetworkOne-sided
    D
    2/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 2

  29. #29
    AkronatW Michigan
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    1/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 1 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 1

  30. #30
    Air ForceatNew Mexico
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    0/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 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.

Get the weekend's best games every Friday

The most watchable games across every sport, what's at stake in the playoff races, and last week's best games, spoiler-free. Free, one email a week.

Sports you care about