Worth the replay?

Sunday, March 8'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
    MemphisatTulane
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown 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
    Boston UatNavy
    CBB· CBSSNDown 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

  3. #3
    W CarolinaatETSU
    CBB· ESPNUDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  4. #4
    East CarolinaatUAB
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  5. #5
    QueensatC Arkansas
    CBB· ESPN2OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  6. #6
    San FranciscoatOregon St
    CBB· ESPN2Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

  7. #7
    GA SouthernatMarshall
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  8. #8
    IdahoatMontana St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  9. #9
    DrexelatMonmouth
    CBB
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  10. #10
    ColgateatLehigh
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  11. #11
    IowaatNebraska
    CBB· FoxOvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

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

  12. #12
    MaristatMerrimack
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  13. #13
    UNC GreensboroatFurman
    CBB· ESPNU
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

  14. #14
    TempleatTulsa
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  15. #15
    IllinoisatMaryland
    CBB· Fox
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  16. #16
    Michigan StatMichigan
    CBB· CBSBack and forth
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  17. #17
    CampbellatUNC Wilmington
    CBBBig comeback
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33

  18. #18
    North DakotaatN Dakota St
    CBB· CBSSN
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

  19. #19
    Idaho StatPortland St
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 24

  20. #20
    Northern IowaatUIC
    CBB· CBS
    D
    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

  21. #21
    Hou ChristianatLSU N Orleans
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    D
    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

  22. #22
    N KentuckyatGreen Bay
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

  23. #23
    WinthropatHigh Point
    CBB· ESPN2One-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

  24. #24
    FairfieldatSiena
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  25. #25
    N'Western StatNicholls
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  26. #26
    Penn StateatRutgers
    CBB· BTNOne-sided
    D
    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

  27. #27
    PacificatSanta Clara
    CBB· ESPN2One-sided
    D
    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings6/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11

  28. #28
    William & MaryatHofstra
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

  29. #29
    Southern MissatTroy
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings5/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

  30. #30
    TowsonatCharleston
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  31. #31
    CharlotteatSouth Florida
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings3/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  32. #32
    UTSAatRice
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    2/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings2/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    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.

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