FAYETTEVILLE -- No. 15 Arkansas will be back at Bud Walton Arena on Saturday evening to play host to unranked Kentucky.

Arkansas (16-5, 6-2) is coming off a road win over Oklahoma. Kentucky (14-7, 5-3) was just thumped on the road losing to Vanderbilt 80-55 Tuesday night in Nashville. Last season, a struggling Arkansas team went to Lexington and handed the Wildcats an 89-79 loss. Arkansas' Kenny Payne reflected back on that game Friday as the Hogs earned their second SEC win of the season.

"For us, I think before we went into Rupp, I don’t know if we had won one game or if we were 0-5 or whatever (1-6), but we had been struggling in conference," Payne said. "It was a great time for us to get a quality win and get some confidence. It was a hard-fought game, well-needed game. It was good to come out with a victory."

Payne was asked if John Calipari and former Kentucky player D.J. Wagner or himself feel any extra meaning for this game?

"Well obviously for the players like D.J. and guys that committed, Billy (Richmond) and those guys (Karter Knox), there is a little bit of that," Payne said. "But at the end of the day, it’s about us getting better and we have to do a good job of making sure that we keep that in mind. It’s not a personal thing, it’s not our win versus their win as far as coaches, as far as one player. It’s us continuing to grow and get better as a team."

While Kentucky started 0-2 in the SEC and did lose big at Vanderbilt, prior to that game they had won five SEC games in a row.

"Great question," Payne said. "They’re great in transition, very elite. They get the ball out quick on misses and makes. They push the ball up the floor and they attack you. The other thing they’re elite at is they’re a great offensive rebounding team. They’ve been pounding people on the boards and the five games in a row shows there’s a grit to this team, there’s a willingness to fight when things are bad to come out with victories."

Payne also talked about how much tape he watched when Kentucky lost to Vanderbilt.

"No question, that's a burn the tape game," Payne said. "You know, for me, I look at the first half. They missed so many easy shots, that game could have been in the balance in the first half, but those five games where they had to fight in the second half to come back and win. That says a lot about who that team is. That says a lot about playing through adversity. That says a lot about playing in an atmosphere, at a place where losing is not acceptable. And for those guys to go out there, and that team to go out there and fight to win five games in a row after having deficits to overcome, says a lot about the character, the toughness of the team."

Senior point guard Denzel Aberdeen will offer some challenges for the Razorbacks. He's leading the team with 3.1 assists per game. Aberdeen is also averaging 12.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.8 steal and shooting 37.5% from deep.

"He makes big shots," Payne said. "When he's playing well, they're a pretty good team. When he's playing well, I shouldn't say pretty good. They're an elite team. They have beat teams in our conference based off his play, along with (Otega) Oweh, (Malachi) Moreno as well, but he's an elite guard. He didn't just come from Florida just to sit the bench, and he came there with a mission, and he's played well for them."

What does Payne feel is the key to stopping Moreno, a guard, and center Collin Chandler?

"Well Moreno has been a pleasant surprise for Kentucky," Payne said. "He’s a good player, he makes a major difference in their program when he’s playing well, which he has done. He can finish around the basket, he’s a good passer, excellent rebounder and he blocks shots. And then the other kid, Chandler, shoots the ball. When he’s making shots, he’s active, he has a motor. He defense, he rebounds, when he’s playing well, you just said it, they’re a really good team."

The tip will be at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN.