Worth the replay?

Sunday, February 22'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
IonaatMerrimack
CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
A
75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings25/25
Comeback15/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth8/10
Overtime+8
Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
#2
NiagaraatRider
CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
B+
72/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings25/25
Comeback16/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72
#3
Boston UatLehigh
CBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comeback
B+
70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings25/25
Comeback18/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth5/10
Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70
#4
Sacred HeartatMarist
CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
B+
69/100
▸ 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) = 69
#5
Green BayatDetroit Mercy
CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
B+
67/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings23/25
Comeback10/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67
#6
FAUatNorth Texas
CBB· ESPNUDown to the wireBack and forth
B+
65/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings25/25
Comeback7/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65
#7
FairfieldatQuinnipiac
CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
B
64/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings22/25
Comeback14/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth5/10
Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64
#8
Holy CrossatBucknell
CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
B
61/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings21/25
Comeback10/20
Decided late10/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61
#9
Purdue FWatCleveland St
CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
B
58/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings19/25
Comeback3/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58
#10
UABatMemphis
CBB· ESPN2
C+
51/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension28/30
Swings21/25
Comeback12/20
Decided late5/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51
#11
Robert MorrisatWright St
CBB· ESPNU
C+
48/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension29/30
Swings19/25
Comeback10/20
Decided late5/15
Back-and-forth0/10
Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48
#12
MilwaukeeatOakland
CBB· ESPN+
C+
47/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension20/30
Swings21/25
Comeback7/20
Decided late6/15
Back-and-forth8/10
Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47
#13
TowsonatDrexel
CBB· CBSSN
C
45/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings14/25
Comeback4/20
Decided late11/15
Back-and-forth0/10
Drama 59 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45
#14
N KentuckyatYoungstown St
CBB· ESPN+
C
41/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension27/30
Swings13/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth0/10
Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 41
#15
IowaatWisconsin
CBB· FS1
C
39/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension17/30
Swings18/25
Comeback6/20
Decided late4/15
Back-and-forth8/10
Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39
#16
Ohio StateatMichigan St
CBB· CBS
D
35/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension17/30
Swings19/25
Comeback2/20
Decided late3/15
Back-and-forth5/10
Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35
#17
AmericanatLafayette
CBB· ESPN+
D
33/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension14/30
Swings21/25
Comeback4/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth5/10
Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33
#18
RiceatTulane
CBB· ESPN+
D
33/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension14/30
Swings18/25
Comeback4/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth8/10
Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33
#19
CanisiusatMount St Marys
CBB· ESPN+One-sided
D
15/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30
Swings15/25
Comeback2/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15
#20
Saint Peter'satSiena
CBB· ESPN+One-sided
D
10/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension3/30
Swings7/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10
#21
UTSAatTulsa
CBB· ESPNEWSOne-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

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.