Overrated compared to what? Overrated is a relative term. If I am a pitcher and go 24-2 one year and everyone says I am the greatest and the next year I go 19-10 and people say I am overrated, but it turns out my 19 wins are still better then everyone else, where am I overrated? Compared to myself the year before?
Is the BE as good as it was last year, probably not. Definitely a step down with traditional powers like Pitt, Villanova and now UCONN having off years. No doubt. But overrated, compared to who? The PAC 10, the SEC, the ACC. I would match the BE on a consistent basis this year over any of those conferences top to bottom. The Big 10 and the Big 12 maybe but certainly the Big East will have NCAA participation comparable if not better then both of those conferences even this year.
Now the MAAC, that is a different story. No doubt the BE is down compared to the MAAC. St. Peter's and Canisius would probably be around 8-10 in the BE this year and Iona would win the conference.