Worth the replay?
Friday, March 6'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 →- #1Charleston SoatWinthropCBB· 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
- #2LongwoodatUNC AshevilleCBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback20/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #3ValparaisoatBradleyCBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown 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
- #4PresbyterianatRadfordCBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback20/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #5The CitadelatChattanoogaCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+73/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback17/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73
- #6SE MissouriatMorehead StCBB· ESPNUDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+71/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings24/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71
- #7GA SouthernatSouth AlabamaCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+71/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback18/20Decided late12/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71
- #8Miami OHatOhioCBB· ESPN2OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forthB65/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings19/25Comeback4/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65
- #9DrakeatBelmontCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB64/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback16/20Decided late5/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64
- #10San DiegoatSeattle UCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forthB63/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback6/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63
- #11VCUatDaytonCBB· ESPN2Down to the wireBack and forthB59/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings18/25Comeback6/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59
- #12Southern MissatTexas StCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireB57/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings18/25Comeback5/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57
- #13UNLVatSan Diego StCBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBack and forthC+53/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings15/25Comeback0/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53
- #14PortlandatWashington StCBB· ESPN+C+47/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension20/30Swings21/25Comeback13/20Decided late5/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47
- #15ColumbiaatHarvardCBB· ESPN+C43/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings16/25Comeback0/20Decided late6/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 57 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 43
- #16Bowling GreenatE MichiganCBB· ESPN+Back and forthC42/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension18/30Swings20/25Comeback8/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42
- #17OmahaatSouth DakotaCBBC39/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension21/30Swings17/25Comeback0/20Decided late6/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39
- #18FairfieldatSaint Peter'sCBB· ESPN+D32/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension3/30Swings21/25Comeback13/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32
- #19St John'satSeton HallCBB· FS1D30/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension17/30Swings15/25Comeback0/20Decided late3/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30
- #20StetsonatAustin PeayCBB· ESPN+D28/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension11/30Swings18/25Comeback6/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28
- #21BuffaloatToledoCBB· ESPN+D23/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension13/30Swings13/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 31 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 23
- #22FGCUatLipscombCBB· ESPN+D20/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings20/25Comeback7/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20
- #23UT MartinatTennessee StCBB· ESPNUOne-sidedD16/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings14/25Comeback4/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16
- #24NortheasternatNC A&TCBBOne-sidedD15/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension1/30Swings12/25Comeback3/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15
- #25PennatBrownCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD14/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings17/25Comeback2/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14
- #26DenveratNorth DakotaCBBOne-sidedD14/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension1/30Swings10/25Comeback7/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14
- #27W MichiganatKent StateCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD13/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension15/30Swings2/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13
- #28UCFatWest VirginiaCBB· CBSSNOne-sidedD10/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension3/30Swings10/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10
- #29Northern IowaatIllinois StCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD10/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension1/30Swings12/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10
- #30C MichiganatBall StateCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD6/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension2/30Swings6/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6
- #31VMIatUNC GreensboroCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD6/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension2/30Swings4/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6
- #32BellarmineatC ArkansasCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD5/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension1/30Swings6/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 6 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5
- #33Sacred HeartatMerrimackCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD5/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings6/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 6 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5
- #34West GeorgiaatQueensCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD4/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension2/30Swings4/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 6 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 4
- #35Gardner-WebbatHigh PointCBB· ESPN+One-sidedD0/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings0/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 0
- #36N IllinoisatAkronCBB· CBSSNOne-sidedD0/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings0/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 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.