Makes sense to me. I have had a number of women friends. The ones who were truly good friends (as opposed to social acquaintances)? If I like them that much, then I could also see the potential of a romantic relationship with them.

That said, I find it odd that the study found guys overestimated the woman's interest. That seems like wishful thinking. I always found it pretty clear whether or not the potential interest was returned. If it wasn't, it wasn't, and there's no sense messing up a nice friendship.

Taking a few steps back, to look at the big picture: It is pretty well established that - given the opportunity - men tend to be more promiscuous than women. Turned around: women tend to be more selective than men, and if they are not, it can lead to (or is tied to existing) mental health problems. For example, one NIH study shows "a strong association between number of sex partners and later substance disorder, especially for women".