Like most things in life, the Pac-10 season has gone by in a blur. We’re already midway through the season, meaning that each team has played every other team in the conference once.

While the conference has lived up to its billing as being the deepest in the nation, it lacks depth at the top — the conference has a mere three teams in the nation’s top-25.

That being said, the season has still been plenty exciting. After UCLA and Stanford at the top two spots, six of the conference’s teams are only separated by a single game. And though it seems as if the No. 5 Bruins have a stronghold on the conference race, our very own Stanford Cardinal is only a game back in the standings after a signature victory at Washington State.

But I digress. Without further ado, here is my midseason report and awards for the Pac-10:

Player of the Year: Kevin Love, UCLA

This is a tough one, because Brook Lopez has probably carried his team more than any other player. Despite that, the simple fact which remains is that Love is the best player on the conference’s best team. He’s averaging 18 points and 12 boards a game, and is the best passing big man in basketball (yes, including the NBA).

Freshman of the Year: Kevin Love, UCLA

Plenty of other deserving candidates, but I can’t give Love Player of the Year without giving him Freshman of the Year, can I?

Surprise Team of the Year: Stanford

Arizona State would have been a good selection for this two weeks into the conference season, but the Sun Devils are fading as the season wears on. The Cardinal was picked to finish fifth in the conference and seen as a fringe top-25 team by many. Despite the doubts, the team is on a five-game winning streak and looks progressively better with each victory.

And here’s the good news: Juniors Anthony Goods and Lawrence Hill have yet to regain their shooting form of last year. If they start to heat up, the Cardinal will be that much better.

Most Underrated Player: Jon Brockman, Washington

Mired in mediocrity up in the Northwest, junior forward Jon Brockman is quietly putting together a remarkable season. The bruising post player averages 18.6 points and 11.2 rebounds, although most people outside of the state of Washington probably haven’t seen him play. Brockman is a prototypical, hard-nosed big man. While he doesn’t have the skills of a Kevin Love or the shooting touch of a Brook Lopez, he has a never-ending motor and toughness which accounts for his lofty numbers.

Most Improved Player: Russell Westbrook, UCLA

The UCLA guard went from averaging 8 minutes and 3 points a game last year to 12 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists a night this season. Standing at 6-foot-3, Westbrook is a spark plug for the Bruins, throwing down dunks over much bigger opponents and playing some of the best on-ball defense in the conference. Many analysts have speculated that — despite other Bruins such as Josh Shipp, Darren Collison and the heralded Kevin Love — the sophomore may be the team’s best pro prospect.

Biggest Disappointment: Washington State

There are a number of viable candidates — think Oregon, who started the season at No. 12 in the country — but it’s fair to say give the Cougars the (dis)honor. Wazzu was undefeated and ranked in the nation’s top-5 coming into conference play. Halfway into the Pac-10 schedule, the Cougars find themselves at 5-4. Stanford beat them at their own game yesterday, grinding out a plodding victory up in Pullman on Saturday.

Team to watch: Stanford

There might be a slight bias here, but it’s only appropriate when considering this paper’s readership. That said, Stanford will be an interesting team to watch down the stretch. The Cardinal doesn’t win pretty, but it wins. The team finds itself at 18-3 and 7-2 in conference play with a solid chance at getting a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament.

And who knows? The team is only one game behind UCLA in the conference standings. Like they say, crazier things have happened . . . Just ask Tom Brady and the Patriots.